Cricket

India refuse to accept Women's Asia Cup trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, chaos erupts; last year's drama repeated in Dubai

September 13, 2026

Following their victory over Sri Lanka at Dubai International Stadium to clinch the Women's Asia Cup 2026, the Indian team led by Harmanpreet Kaur declined to collect their championship silverware from Asian Cricket Council president and Pakistan Cricket Board chief Mohsin Naqvi. Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan's Interior Minister, had appeared in the stands late in the match near BCCI officials Rajeev Shukla and Devajit Saikia, sparking an impasse that pushed the post-game ceremony back by nearly 50 minutes.

Amid prolonged discussions between Indian cricket board representatives and the squad, Saikia distributed a fielding medal to Nandni Sharma, but the newly crowned champions ultimately stayed in their dressing room rather than receive the prize from Naqvi, leaving Sri Lankan skipper Chamari Athapaththu and her squad as the only players collecting runners-up medals and prize money on the podium.

The confrontation mirrored events from the prior year's Men's Asia Cup, when an Indian team captained by Suryakumar Yadav similarly rejected taking the tournament trophy from Naqvi, leaving that uncollected prize stored at the regional body's Dubai headquarters. That earlier edition unfolded amid fierce diplomatic tension tied to the Pahalgam terror incident and Operation Sindoor, introducing an era where competitors from both nations avoided handshakes.