India’s Women’s Asia Cup triumph in Dubai ended with another controversial trophy presentation, but this time the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made it clear that the decision was not an individual call by the players.
After Harmanpreet Kaur’s side defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs to win a record-extending eighth Asia Cup title, the Indian team did not accept the trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi.
The development closely mirrored the controversy from last year’s men’s Asia Cup final, when the Indian team also refused to receive the trophy from Naqvi, who is simultaneously the ACC president, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman and Pakistan’s interior minister.
Amol Muzumdar Reveals BCCI’s Stand
India head coach Amol Muzumdar made it clear after the final that the players were acting in accordance with the BCCI’s position.
“That stand has been taken by 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,” Muzumdar said at the post-match press conference.
He added that India were officially the champions and that the team was already looking ahead to its next assignment, the Asian Games.
“We are happy that we have turned out to be champions. Now, we look forward to the Asian Games.”
What Happened During the Presentation?
The Indian players did not return to the field for the official trophy presentation. Instead, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and vice-president Rajeev Shukla were seen with the players, while Saikia presented India’s in-house Best Fielder award to Nandini Sharma. The players subsequently remained away from the formal presentation.
Naqvi was present during the ceremony and later presented Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu with the runners-up cheque. However, the Indian team did not collect the winners’ trophy from him. Unlike last year’s men’s final, Naqvi also did not leave the stadium carrying the trophy on this occasion.