Photo via Hindustan Times

India refuse to accept Women's Asia Cup trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, chaos reigns supreme as last year's drama repeated

Dramatic scenes unfolded at the Dubai International Stadium following India's victory over Sri Lanka in the 2026 Women's Asia Cup final, as the champions declined to collect their winners' silverware from Asian Cricket Council head and Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi. Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan's Interior Minister, had appeared late in the match seated near BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla and secretary Devajit Saikia before offering Shukla post-match congratulations.

Following extensive deliberations between Indian board dignitaries and the squad—during which Saikia distributed a fielding medal to Nandni Sharma—the post-match ceremony was held up for roughly fifty minutes. Ultimately, Harmanpreet Kaur's squad remained inside their dressing room rather than participate in the handover.

The ceremony proceeded solely with match officials and the runner-up contingent, featuring Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapaththu collecting team medals and a monetary prize from Naqvi before delivering her televised remarks. This standoff mirrors the prior year's Men's Asia Cup, where an Indian side captained by Yadav similarly rejected receiving the championship prize from Naqvi, leaving that trophy locked away at council headquarters in Dubai.