India’s women’s cricket team won the Women’s Asia Cup final after defeating Sri Lanka by 72 runs in Dubai on Sunday. Despite securing the title, the team skipped the trophy presentation and did not come forward to receive the trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi.
Naqvi attended the ceremony in his capacity as ACC president. He is also the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Pakistan’s interior minister.
According to ACC officials, the trophy was ready and the presentation arrangements had already been made. However, the Indian team chose not to attend the presentation involving Naqvi and remained in the dressing room.
The decision has added another controversial chapter to the already strained cricketing relationship between India and Pakistan. Political tensions between the two countries have increasingly affected their sporting interactions in recent tournaments.
A similar situation occurred during the previous men’s Asia Cup, when India’s men’s team also did not receive the trophy from Naqvi after winning the tournament. The 2025 competition was additionally marked by controversy surrounding the teams’ decision not to exchange handshakes.
The latest incident has once again placed the spotlight on the impact of India-Pakistan tensions on cricket, even as India’s women celebrated another major Asia Cup triumph on the field.
