India’s women’s cricket team refused to collect the Asia Cup trophy from ACC President Mohsin Naqvi after a dominant win over Sri Lanka in the final. The match took place at Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, where India sealed a 72-run victory to claim the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 title.
According to sources, the trophy presentation protocol had been fully agreed upon in advance. The silverware was ready and waiting for the winners. Yet the Indian players stayed inside the dressing room and did not come out to receive it. In contrast, Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu stepped forward and accepted the runners-up prize money cheque from Naqvi without any issue.
This incident has sparked fresh debate. ACC sources confirmed that India made the deliberate choice not to take the trophy from the ACC president. They also noted that the previous trophy won by an Indian side remains available and is still waiting to be collected. Naqvi has not changed his position at all and continues to stand firm on presenting the award himself.
The episode closely mirrors what happened during last year’s men’s Asia Cup. On that occasion India also declined to accept the trophy from Naqvi after beating Pakistan in the final. The ceremony was delayed by nearly 90 minutes because neither side was willing to compromise. Eventually the organisers took the trophy away without it being handed over.
Sources describe the latest decision as another example of cricket being overshadowed by politics. Many observers believe the move followed directives from the Board of Control for Cricket in India. Critics have called it a display of arrogance that puts political considerations above the spirit of the game.
The Indian women’s team celebrated a strong performance on the field, but the post-match ceremony ended without the traditional trophy lift. ACC officials maintain that the trophy is still available whenever the winners choose to collect it. For now, the focus remains on the sporting achievement while the controversy around the presentation continues to dominate discussions.
