India Triumphs in Women's Asia Cup 2026, Snubs Trophy Presentation
India Claims Women's Asia Cup Title
The final of the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 saw India achieve a remarkable 72-run victory against Sri Lanka at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 13. This win marks India's eighth title in the tournament's history.
Under the leadership of Harmanpreet Kaur, the Indian team avenged their previous loss to Sri Lanka in the 2024 final. However, the victory was overshadowed by a notable off-field incident as the Indian team opted not to accept the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and chief of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
This decision mirrored a similar stance taken by the men's team last year, which also declined to accept their trophy from Naqvi due to ongoing geopolitical tensions. Harmanpreet Kaur and her teammates collectively decided to forgo the trophy presentation, adhering to an agreement made within the team.
BCCI Comments on Trophy Presentation Decision
The refusal to accept the Women’s Asia Cup trophy from Mohsin Naqvi sparked significant discussion after the tournament. Naqvi was present at the final alongside BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla and secretary Devajit Saikia.
Upon returning to New Delhi, Rajeev Shukla informed the media that Naqvi did not object to the team's decision, stating that he simply handed the trophy to other officials and departed without any issues.
Shukla explained, "We discussed the matter among ourselves and decided that we would not accept the trophy from him. It was our collective decision. He (Naqvi) also did not raise any objection to it."
Context of the Trophy Snub
In the previous Men's Asia Cup, Team India had a similar experience, defeating Pakistan three times, including in the final. They also refused to accept accolades from Naqvi following the Pahalgam Terror Attack on April 22, 2025.
Naqvi had previously made derogatory remarks about the Indian Armed Forces on social media, which contributed to Team India's firm stance on maintaining a clear separation between sports and political tensions.
BCCI's Pre-emptive Communication
Before Shukla's media address, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia provided further insight into the board's prior communication with the ACC. He mentioned that the BCCI had informed Naqvi in advance that India would not participate in the trophy presentation if it followed the planned format.
Saikia stated, "We maintained our position based on that context. We had stated beforehand that we did not approve the manner in which they had planned the prize distribution ceremony." He added that since the ACC did not agree to their terms, India chose to forgo the trophy presentation and would collect it later.
Looking Ahead: Asian Games
Following their Asia Cup victory, Team India, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, is set to compete in the upcoming Asian Games in Japan. They will begin their quest to defend their gold medal against the host nation, Japan, in the quarterfinals at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin on September 18.
If both teams progress, India may face Pakistan in the semifinals, as Pakistan is set to compete against Thailand in their quarterfinal match.