India Refuses Women’s Asia Cup Trophy from Mohsin Naqvi

India refused to collect the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday after defeating Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

The trophy presentation was delayed by more than half an hour, while Naqvi remained on the stage as the audience waited for the Indian team to collect the trophy. The presentation eventually ended without the Indian team receiving their winners’ medals or trophy.

India Refuses Trophy at Women’s Asia Cup Final

India secured a 72-run victory over Sri Lanka in the final to win the Women’s Asia Cup title.

Following the match, the trophy presentation was delayed for more than 30 minutes. Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman and Pakistan’s interior minister, was present on the stage.

According to live visuals from the stadium, the presentation ceremony ended without the Indian team collecting their winners’ medals or trophy.

Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu, however, collected the runners-up cheque from Naqvi.

Indian Team Stands by BCCI Decision

India’s head coach Amol Muzumdar said the decision was taken by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and that the team stood by it.

Muzumdar said the team considered the tournament officially over and that being champions was enough for them.

When asked whether the trophy could meet the same fate as the men’s trophy from the previous year, he said there was no news on the matter and that he could not comment.

Asked whether the decision affected sportsmanship, Muzumdar again said the team supported the BCCI’s stance and that the tournament was officially over for them.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has also recently announced changes affecting national cricket players, including a PCB match fee increase.

Repeat of Last Year’s Asia Cup Trophy Incident

The incident repeated what happened during the Men’s Asia Cup final in October last year, when India also refused to collect the trophy at the closing ceremony.

India had defeated Pakistan by five wickets in that final, but the trophy presentation was delayed because of the refusal.

There were also no customary handshakes between the two teams after India declined to do so. Tensions had been high during their earlier matches in the competition.

The previous incident came amid tensions following the May 2025 Pakistan-India military conflict, which had also affected the atmosphere around the cricket matches.

The previous Asia Cup controversy also involved tensions surrounding Pakistan and India, including developments linked to the Asia Cup cricket rivalry

Tallal Chaudhry Criticises India’s Stance

Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry criticised India’s decision to refuse the trophy.

Speaking to Geo News, Chaudhry said India’s diplomatic and military defeats would not be erased by refusing to accept the trophy.

He also accused India of damaging sports culture and said sportsmanship was important regardless of victory or defeat.

Chaudhry said Pakistan had not politicised sports or made them a target of conflict between the two countries. He added that Pakistan remained open to dialogue on controversial issues.

India Wins Women’s Asia Cup for Eighth Time

India won the Women’s Asia Cup for the eighth time after defeating Sri Lanka by 72 runs.

India scored 185 runs for five wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Smriti Mandhana scored 59 runs, while Shafali Verma contributed 68 runs.

For India, Shree Charani took four wickets, while Deepti Sharma claimed three wickets.

Sri Lanka struggled in the chase, with only Chamari Athapaththu, Vishmi Gunaratne and Nilakshi de Silva reaching double figures. Athapaththu was Sri Lanka’s highest scorer with 36 runs off 32 balls.

India’s recent cricket performances have also featured prominently in Pakistan-related sports coverage, including major India Pakistan cricket matches.

Women’s Asia Cup 2026 Final – Key Details

India’s eighth Women’s Asia Cup title was followed by a delayed trophy presentation, with the Indian team refusing to collect the trophy and winners’ medals from ACC President Mohsin Naqvi.