The trophy stalemate persists as India refuses to concede up on Naqvi

The Indian women’s cricket team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, returned home empty-handed after winning the Asia Cup by defeating Sri Lanka by 72 runs. The presentation ceremony was marred by intervention from Mohsin Naqvi, PCB chairman and head of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), who insisted on handing over the trophy himself, echoing the previous year’s experience of the Indian men’s team who were also denied their trophy after winning.

Despite disputes over the presentation’s protocol, the ceremony concluded without the winners receiving their prize, highlighting ongoing tensions within Asian cricket governance. Naqvi gave the Sri Lankan team the runners-up cheque while standing on the podium. Among those on the stage were Al Zarooni, Eran Wickramaratne, the president of the Sri Lanka Cricket Transformation Committee, Mubashir Usmani, the secretary general of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), and a female representative of DP World, the Asia Cup’s title sponsor.

Vice-president Rajeev Shukla and BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia were on the ground, but they did not join Naqvi on stage or ascend to the dais. They addressed the local Indian contingent.

“It was the same old story. Naqvi wanted to present the trophy, but the Indian team said no. So the compromise was to go ahead with the ceremony without the presentation of the winners’ trophy,” said a source in the know. “So there was neither a trophy nor medals for the Indian players.”

Amol Muzumdar, the head coach of the Indian team, was later asked about the episode. “That stand has been taken by the BCCI, and we stand by it. For us, this tournament is over. We are the champions. That’s good enough. It was on the big board that India are champions of the Asia Cup 2026. This tournament is officially over for us. We are happy that we have turned out to be champions. Now, we look forward to the Asian Games,” he said.