‘We can’t receive the [Asia Cup] trophy from him’: BCCI secretary reveals India Women’s decision to snub Mohsin Naqvi

'We can't receive the [Asia Cup] trophy from him': BCCI secretary reveals India Women's decision to snub Mohsin Naqvi originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

India Women refused to receive the 2026 Asia Cup trophy from ACC president Mohsin Naqvi after beating Sri Lanka in the final.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the decision was in solidarity with the men's team's stance last year.

Saikia said India tried to find a solution but had "no regrets" over the decision.

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India Women's Asia Cup triumph overshadowed by Mohsin Naqvi trophy snub

India Women secured their record-extending eighth title in the Women's Asia Cup in 2026 after comfortably defeating Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final played on Sunday.

But celebrations were cut short by the prize-giving ceremony, with the Indian team refusing to take the trophy from the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), Mohsin Naqvi, who was present at the Dubai venue.

While it was believed before the match that vice president Khalid Zarooni would give the trophy instead, Naqvi was indeed at the presentation ceremony.

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The incident was reminiscent of a controversy in the men's Asia Cup final last year, where India players refused to take the trophy from Naqvi.

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Why did India Women refuse to receive the Asia Cup trophy from Mohsin Naqvi?

BCCI/Creimas

BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia explained that India women's cricket team took the decision to boycott the presentation ceremony to show solidarity with the stand of the men's team last year during the tournament.

"Our men's team won the Asia Cup a year and a half ago. And our whole situation, since the April 2025 Pahalgam incident, changed after that," Saikia was quoted by IANS.

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He stated that India had been following the government's stand of playing against every nation in the multinational tournaments, but it did not imply that they accept all the conditions prevailing.

"Our military conflict is still ongoing. One of the main leaders who is working against the interests of our country; we can't receive the trophy from him. The women's team has expressed solidarity with the decision taken by the men's team last year," Saikia added.

Naqvi is the president of ACC, as well as Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman and Pakistan's interior minister, which makes him the central figure in this whole fiasco.

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BCCI secretary says India tried to resolve trophy presentation issue

Saikia made it clear that India had made attempts at solving the problem even before the presentation; however, they were not fruitful.

"We tried to solve today's situation, but our efforts were not successful. We don't have any regrets," he said. "Our ultimate priority and ambition was not to focus on who would give the trophy."

Additionally, Saikia emphasised that the issue should not detract from the performance of India in the tournament.

"It doesn't diminish the performances of our team. We have won all our matches in a one-sided manner. Women's cricket has been growing so well in India and there's no bigger evidence of that than this," he added.

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Saikia clarifies interaction with Mohsin Naqvi

Despite the issue of the trophy, Saikia made it clear that there was nothing like avoiding Naqvi in the end.

According to him, the dignitaries would be in the Royal Box in the course of the game and it was just the usual process of meeting others.

"We will have to meet everybody anyway," Saikia clarified and pointed out that Naqvi came to sit along with ACC's deputy chairman Khalid Al Zarooni.

Saikia gave India's fielding medal after the game. His discussion with Naqvi then revolved around India's Asian Games tour, not the trophy.

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Indian women turn focus to Asian Games after reclaiming Asia Cup title

The presentation of the trophy will be the main topic of discussion because of the political implications involved and because of its resemblance to what happened in the men's Asia Cup last year.

However, the campaign of India needs to be considered as well since they emerged victorious after winning their matches without a loss and ended up defeating Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final.

India Women will turn their attention to the upcoming 2026 Asian Games in Japan, with their Asian Games fixtures on September 18, 20 and 22, with BCCI secretary Saikia also stating, "Our goal is to bring home the gold medal, and that is our sole objective."

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