India’s Women’s Asia Cup trophy snub puts BCCI-ACC standoff back in focus

India’s record eighth Women’s Asia Cup triumph was overshadowed by a trophy presentation controversy after the Indian team declined to receive the silverware from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi following their 72-run win over Sri Lanka in the final in Dubai.

India were scheduled to receive the trophy from Naqvi, who is also the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board and Pakistan’s interior minister. However, the Indian players did not take part in the official trophy presentation, leading to a delay in the ceremony.

The development was not an unexpected decision by the Indian board. According to reports, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had informed the ACC before the final that the Indian team would not accept the trophy from Naqvi if it won the tournament.

BCCI says decision was taken at institutional level

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia subsequently explained the board’s position, saying the decision followed the stance taken by the Indian men’s team after winning the 2025 Asia Cup.

Saikia said India had asked for the trophy to be presented by ACC vice-president Khalid Al Zarooni instead. According to his account, that proposal was not accepted, leaving the Indian side unwilling to participate in the official presentation ceremony.

The BCCI secretary also said the decision did not diminish the achievement of the women’s team, which had won all its matches in the tournament.

India’s head coach Amol Muzumdar separately confirmed that the team supported the board’s position. Reports quoting his post-match comments said the decision came from the BCCI and the players followed the board’s instructions.

What happened at the presentation

After India defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs, the presentation ceremony proceeded without the Indian team receiving its winners’ medals or trophy.

Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu and her teammates received their runners-up medals, while Athapaththu also collected the runners-up cheque from Naqvi. The Indian players, meanwhile, did not return to the field for the main presentation.

Unlike the 2025 men’s Asia Cup episode, Naqvi did not leave the venue carrying the trophy. The trophy was removed from the presentation area after the ceremony concluded.

An ACC source cited by NDTV said the trophy remains available for the Indian team and that the ACC’s position had not changed. The same report said the 2025 men’s Asia Cup trophy also remains available for collection.

A repeat of the 2025 Asia Cup episode

The latest controversy closely follows what happened at the men’s Asia Cup final in 2025.

India had defeated Pakistan in the final but did not accept the trophy from Naqvi. The Indian men’s team subsequently celebrated without the silverware, and the trophy remained with the ACC.

The issue has therefore now involved both Indian senior teams within a year. In the women’s tournament, however, the BCCI had communicated its position to the ACC before the final, according to reports.

Saikia said the BCCI continues to expect both Asia Cup trophies to eventually come into its possession through official channels.

For now, India have the tournament title but did not participate in the official ceremony to receive the trophy. The BCCI has publicly stood by the decision, while the ACC has indicated that the trophy remains available to the champions.