News Desk; India’s women’s cricket team won the 2026 Women’s Asia Cup for a record eighth time, but the champions were not seen lifting the trophy after their victory. India defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final to clinch the title. However, during the post-match presentation ceremony, Harmanpreet Kaur and her teammates did not accept the trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Chairman and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi. The decision sparked considerable controversy, prompting the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to explain the reason behind it.
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia said the decision was not taken at the last moment. According to him, the board had already decided, keeping the prevailing circumstances and the sentiments of people in India in mind, that the Indian team would not accept the trophy from Naqvi. The ACC had reportedly been informed about the decision even before the final.
The BCCI clarified that the decision was not intended as a gesture against the Asia Cup, cricket or the players participating in the tournament. Instead, it was taken in the context of the current relationship between India and Pakistan. According to the board, India’s participation in a multinational cricket tournament and accepting an award from a Pakistani official are two separate matters and should not be treated as the same issue.
A similar situation had emerged during last year’s men’s Asia Cup as well. The Indian men’s team had also declined to receive the trophy from Naqvi. The BCCI Secretary said the women’s team’s decision this year was consistent with that earlier position.
Despite the controversy surrounding the trophy presentation, India’s performance on the field remained emphatic. Harmanpreet Kaur’s side defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final to secure a record eighth Women’s Asia Cup title. The BCCI stressed that although the players did not lift the trophy during the official presentation, there was no question about India’s status as the champions.
The trophy presentation ceremony itself was briefly disrupted by the absence of the Indian players from the stage. Later, a separate medal presentation was arranged for the Indian team in the presence of BCCI officials. After Naqvi presented the runners-up award to the Sri Lankan team, the ceremony concluded.
The controversy over the trophy has once again brought the complicated relationship between Indian and Pakistani cricket into the spotlight. However, the BCCI has made it clear that there is no question of India withdrawing from multinational tournaments. For now, the board’s position remains that India will continue to compete on the field, while decisions regarding official award ceremonies will take into account the prevailing circumstances and national sentiment.
