India won the Women’s Asia Cup for a record eighth time. However, the celebrations were overshadowed by a dispute over the trophy presentation in Dubai.
The Indian team declined to receive the trophy from Asian Cricket Council President Mohsin Naqvi after beating Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final.
Naqvi also serves as chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board and Pakistan’s interior minister.
The Indian players remained away from the presentation ceremony while Naqvi and other officials waited on the stage.
India Refuses Trophy From Mohsin Naqvi
The post-match presentation was delayed for more than 45 minutes as officials waited for the Indian team to return to the field.
The ACC had planned for Naqvi to present the winners’ trophy. However, India did not attend the ceremony.
Sri Lanka’s players did collect their runners-up awards from the officials.
The unusual ending quickly became the main talking point after India’s dominant victory.
India Women Asia Cup Trophy Snub Repeats Past Dispute
The incident also revived memories of last year’s men’s Asia Cup final.
India’s men’s team also declined to receive its trophy from Naqvi after winning the tournament in 2025.
That earlier dispute created a prolonged presentation ceremony and added another layer of tension to India-Pakistan cricket relations.
The latest incident has now produced a similar situation involving the Indian women’s team.
BCCI Decision Behind Trophy Refusal
India head coach Amol Muzumdar later said the decision came from the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
According to Muzumdar, the team followed the board’s instructions and accepted the decision.
He also said the players remained proud of becoming Asian champions.
The comments provide an explanation for why the players did not attend the trophy presentation.
ACC Maintains Presentation Protocol
The Asian Cricket Council has maintained that the trophy was available for the champions.
Reports said the presentation arrangements had been finalized before the match.
The ACC position remained that the winning team would receive the trophy from its president.
As a result, the dispute has continued even after India’s eighth Asia Cup triumph.
India Beats Sri Lanka by 72 Runs
Despite the controversy, India produced a commanding performance in the final.
India scored 183 for five after winning the toss. Smriti Mandhana made 59, while Shafali Verma scored 68.
India then dismissed Sri Lanka for 111 in 20 overs to win by 72 runs.
The victory gave India its record-extending eighth Women’s Asia Cup title.
India Women Asia Cup Trophy Still at Centre of Debate
The trophy dispute has once again highlighted how political tensions between India and Pakistan can affect cricket.
Both countries have maintained a highly competitive sporting relationship despite wider diplomatic disagreements.
However, the repeated trophy presentation disputes have added controversy to major Asia Cup events.
For now, India’s players can celebrate another continental title, but the India Women Asia Cup trophy saga has become almost as prominent as the final itself.
Cricket Victory Overshadowed by Political Tensions
India’s dominant win should have produced a straightforward celebration.
Instead, the trophy presentation became the defining moment of the night.
The episode follows a similar controversy involving the men’s team and shows how difficult it remains to separate cricket from the wider tensions between India and Pakistan.
India now leaves the tournament as Asian champion, while questions remain over when and how the winning trophy will eventually reach the team.
