The controversy surrounding the Asia Cup trophy presentation has resurfaced, with the Indian women’s cricket team choosing not to attend the main presentation ceremony after winning the Women’s Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka in Dubai on Sunday.
Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, India produced a commanding performance to defeat Sri Lanka by 72 runs, securing a record-extending eighth Women’s Asia Cup title.
However, the celebrations took an unusual turn after the Indian players stayed away from the official trophy presentation, where the award was to be presented by Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi.
India Stay Away From Main Trophy Ceremony
Following their comprehensive victory, the Indian team did not return to the field for the main presentation ceremony.
The players had earlier participated in a separate presentation, during which BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia presented Nandini Sharma with an in-house Best Fielder medal.
However, when the official trophy presentation began, the Indian players were absent.
Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan Cricket Board chairman and Pakistan’s Interior Minister, subsequently presented the trophy to Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu before leaving the stadium.
Unlike the events surrounding last year’s men’s Asia Cup, Naqvi did not leave the venue carrying the trophy.
Controversy Echoes 2025 Asia Cup Episode
The development bears similarities to the controversy that followed India’s men’s Asia Cup triumph in 2025.
The Indian men’s team had also declined to receive the trophy from Naqvi after winning the tournament. The trophy was subsequently kept at the ACC office in Dubai, rather than being taken back with the Indian team.
The latest incident has therefore brought the trophy presentation controversy back into the spotlight less than a year after the men’s team’s decision.
Reports suggest that the BCCI had informed the ACC ahead of Sunday’s final that the Indian women’s team would not accept the trophy from Naqvi in the event of an Indian victory.
Sri Lankan Team Completes Presentation
While the Indian players did not participate in the main ceremony, the Sri Lankan team completed its part in the presentation.
Sri Lankan players and members of the support staff received their medals from Sri Lanka Cricket interim chief Eran Wikramaratne.
The runners-up cheque was presented by Naqvi.
The ceremony therefore proceeded despite the absence of the newly crowned champions from the main trophy presentation.
India Dominate Sri Lanka To Win Eighth Title
On the field, India left little doubt about their superiority.
Harmanpreet Kaur’s team registered a convincing 72-run victory over Sri Lanka, adding another title to India’s remarkable record in the Women’s Asia Cup.
The triumph further strengthened India’s position as the most successful team in the history of the tournament, with the women’s side now having won the continental championship eight times.
The result also ensured that the sporting achievement remained at the centre of India’s campaign, even as the unusual trophy presentation attracted significant attention after the final.
Trophy Presentation Becomes Talking Point Again
The latest episode is likely to fuel further discussion around the relationship between sporting ceremonies and the wider India-Pakistan political backdrop.
For the Indian team, the focus remained on its record-breaking title-winning campaign. Yet, the decision to stay away from the official ceremony has once again placed the Asia Cup trophy presentation under scrutiny.
With the tournament victory secured and India’s eighth Women’s Asia Cup title added to the record books, the trophy itself has once again become an unexpected talking point beyond the cricketing action.
