Indian Women's Cricket Team Declines Trophy Amid Tensions with Pakistan

Team's Decision Reflects Political Climate

In Agra, Uttar Pradesh, on September 14, Sumit Sharma, brother of cricketer Deepti Sharma, stated that the Indian women's cricket team's choice to forgo the Women's T20 Asia Cup trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, the President of the Asian Cricket Council and chief of the Pakistan Cricket Board, aligns with the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) directives. He emphasized the ongoing strained relations between India and Pakistan as a significant factor in this decision.

Sumit expressed his pride in the team's victory but clarified that the decision regarding the trophy was ultimately directed by the BCCI. He noted, "Regardless of whether it’s the men’s or women’s team, they adhere to the BCCI’s guidelines."

He further explained that given the historical tensions with Pakistan, accepting the trophy felt inappropriate, especially since there are no bilateral series between the two nations, with encounters only occurring during ICC events.

The entire squad is expected to follow the board's decisions, and this trophy presentation incident reflects the current diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan.

The Indian team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, was absent from the stage during the trophy presentation after their victory over Sri Lanka in the Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026 final. They chose not to accept the trophy from Naqvi, amidst ongoing concerns regarding cross-border terrorism and India's military responses.

In a show of support, Rahul Yadav, brother of player Radha Yadav, congratulated the Indian team for their Asia Cup success, praising their collective effort. He expressed his joy over the team's performance, stating, "It feels wonderful, and I am overjoyed. All the women are performing exceptionally well, and winning the Asia Cup is a fantastic achievement."

Rahul highlighted the standout performances of Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana, attributing the team's success to their combined efforts. He concluded with well wishes for the team's future endeavors, hoping they continue to excel and bring pride to the nation.

India triumphed over Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, securing their eighth Women’s Asia Cup title while remaining unbeaten throughout the tournament.