India’s women’s cricket team secured their record-extending eighth Women’s Asia Cup title on 13 September 2026, in Dubai, but refused to accept the champion’s trophy. India defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
However, the Indian squad boycotted the post-match award stage because Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi led the presentation. Naqvi also serves as Pakistan’s interior minister and Pakistan Cricket Board chairman. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) instructed the team to reject the trophy due to ongoing political and military tensions between India and Pakistan.
Controversial Presentation Stage in Dubai
Match officials first stepped onto the stage to collect their medallions. Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu then accepted the runners-up cheque from Naqvi before speaking about her team’s effort.
The Indian women’s team decided not to accept the Women’s Asia Cup trophy from the Asian Cricket Council president and Pakistan cricket chief Mohsin Naqvi after their win over Sri Lanka in the final on Sunday, September 13 in Dubai.
The incident happened a year after the PCB… pic.twitter.com/9KpJwpbwEG
— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) September 14, 2026
However, organisers cancelled all individual awards, including Player of the Match and Player of the Tournament. Presenters did not call the Indian team to the stage. Naqvi eventually left the stadium without handing over the trophy.
Spectators inside the Dubai International Cricket Stadium shouted “Trophy chor, trophy chor” (trophy thief) at Naqvi as he walked away. Fans previously used the same chant against Naqvi during the men’s Asia Cup final in September 2025. Visuals from that 2025 tournament showed organisers removing the trophy after India beat Pakistan.
Dressing Room Actions and Official Stand
While waiting for the ceremony, the Indian squad held an internal celebration near their dressing room. Indian fielding coach Subhadeep Ghosh awarded an internal best fielder medal to Nandani Shami. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia handed the medal to Shami while BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla watched.
Indian head coach Amol Muzumdar addressed the trophy boycott during his post-match press conference. He confirmed that the team followed official BCCI policy. “That stand has been taken by the BCCI, and we stand by it. The tournament is over. We are the champions, and that’s good enough,” Muzumdar stated.
Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur gave a separate media interview shortly after the victory. She praised her team’s performance throughout the unbeaten campaign. “We all knew it’s not that easy to bat, but I think our openers did an absolutely great job for us, the way they both batted, Smriti and Shafali,” Kaur said.
Official BCCI Explanation and Geopolitical Background
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia explained the political reasons behind the trophy snub. Saikia cited security events that altered diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan.
On 22 April 2025, armed attackers killed 26 men at Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir. Armed group The Resistance Front (TRF) claimed responsibility, and India alleged links to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. India subsequently suspended its participation in the Indus Waters Treaty and scaled back diplomatic ties.
Military conflict escalated on 7 May 2025, when India launched Operation Sindoor and fired missiles at sites in Pakistan. Pakistan responded on 10 May 2025 with Operation Bunyan Marsoos. United States President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire agreement later that day.
Saikia stated that public sentiment strongly opposed sporting relations with Pakistan. “Our military conflict is still ongoing. One of the main leaders is working against the interests of our country; we can’t receive the trophy from him,” Saikia said. He added that the women’s team expressed solidarity with the men’s team, who refused the trophy from Naqvi in September 2025.
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