Dubai: The controversy over the Asia Cup trophy presentation resurfaced on Sunday as the Indian women’s cricket team chose not to attend the post-match ceremony, leaving the tournament’s coveted silverware without a presentation from Asian Cricket Council chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
India had just produced a commanding 72-run victory over Sri Lanka to secure a record-extending eighth Women’s Asia Cup title under captain Harmanpreet Kaur. However, the victorious players did not come onto the field for the presentation ceremony.
Naqvi, who is from Pakistan, serves as the chairman of the ACC as well as the Pakistan Cricket Board. He is also Pakistan’s Interior Minister.
Trophy Ceremony Becomes Point of Attention
While India’s emphatic victory dominated the contest itself, the absence of the players from the presentation ceremony quickly became the major talking point after the final.
The development also brought back memories of last year’s men’s Asia Cup, when the Indian men’s team similarly declined to collect the tournament trophy and medals from Naqvi.
That incident had generated considerable attention, turning what would normally be a routine presentation into a politically sensitive moment.
Eighth Asia Cup Title for India
On the field, India completed a successful campaign with a convincing victory over Sri Lanka, adding another Women’s Asia Cup crown to their record.
The 72-run win underlined India’s dominance in the regional tournament and gave Kaur’s side another major title.
However, the decision to stay away from the presentation ensured that the trophy ceremony once again became inseparable from the wider tensions surrounding cricketing ties between India and Pakistan.
The latest episode marks the second consecutive year in which an Indian team has not accepted the Asia Cup trophy directly from Naqvi, keeping the unusual presentation impasse firmly in the spotlight.
