India Women Refuse Trophy From Mohsin Naqvi After Asia Cup Win

India women secured the ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup title after beating Sri Lanka in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Yet the biggest talking point came after the match, when the champions did not appear for the official trophy presentation.

The Indian players and coaching staff reportedly returned to the dressing room instead of collecting the silverware from ACC president Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan Cricket Board chairman.

The trophy was ready at the venue, and the presentation had already been arranged. But the ceremony was delayed after India chose not to come out.

Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu, meanwhile, accepted the runners-up prize money cheque from Naqvi.

The post-match ceremony at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium was overseen by ACC President Mohsin Naqvi, with the presentation arranged for both finalists. While India did not collect the championship trophy, Sri Lanka completed its part of the ceremony as Chamari Athapaththu accepted the runners-up cheque. 

The trophy presentation therefore remained incomplete despite the title having already been decided. 

Players Celebrate Away From Ceremony

Instead of attending the presentation, the Indian team gathered separately in a huddle. Head coach Amol Muzumdar congratulated the players following their title-winning performance.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and vice-president Rajiv Shukla later joined the celebrations. They presented medals to the players, including Nandani Sharma, while Saikia spent time speaking with the squad after the victory.

The scenes were striking because the team had completed its campaign with the Asia Cup title but did not take the main prize on the stage.

ACC sources said the trophy remained available for the Indian team. The same source of tension had already appeared around the men's competition last year.

Similar Scene During 2025 Asia Cup

The latest episode closely mirrors the men's Asia Cup final in 2025, when India defeated Pakistan by five wickets in Dubai.

Naqvi had been scheduled to present the trophy to the Indian team on that occasion as well. The Indian players accepted their individual awards but did not collect the championship trophy from him.

The situation created a lengthy delay in the presentation. India later celebrated by mimicking the lifting of an imaginary trophy after completing the chase.

Naqvi eventually left the venue with the official silverware.

The latest India women trophy controversy therefore carries a familiar backdrop. The Indian side again celebrated its title away from the official trophy presentation, while the silverware remained unclaimed.

For India women Asia Cup celebrations, the night ended with medals, a team huddle and plenty of joy, but no trophy lift on the official stage.