Photo via Hindustan Times

‘We should not play Pakistan’: India's World Cup winner's message after ‘same old' Mohsin Naqvi trophy snub

India captured the Women's T20 Asia Cup title with a 72-run triumph over Sri Lanka at Dubai International Stadium, but the post-match events were overshadowed by a trophy standoff. After Harmanpreet Kaur elected to bat first, half-centuries from Shafali Verma (68) and Smriti Mandhana (59) propelled India to a total of 183 for 5.

Following the victory and a subsequent delay of roughly 40 to 45 minutes, the Indian side avoided the dais entirely because Asian Cricket Council head Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan's Interior Minister and cricket board chief, was slated to award the silverware. While Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapaththu accepted the runners-up award, BCCI administrators Devajit Saikia and Rajeev Shukla awarded an internal fielding medal to Nandni Sharma away from the main stage, leaving India without their cup for the second straight year in mirroring the men's team snub from the previous season.