India women decline Asia Cup trophy from Naqvi, mirror men's team stand
Synopsis
India's women cricketers lifted the Asia Cup for a record eighth time — then walked away from the trophy presentation. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia says the snub of ACC chief Mohsin Naqvi, Pakistan's Interior Minister, was a conscious act of solidarity with the men's team that did the same in 2025, rooted in the diplomatic fallout from the Pahalgam incident.
Key Takeaways
India women won the Asia Cup for a record-extending eighth time on 14 September 2026 , beating Sri Lanka by 72 runs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium .
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur and the squad declined to collect the trophy from ACC chief Mohsin Naqvi , who also serves as Pakistan's Federal Minister for Interior .
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia linked the decision to India's deteriorating relations with Pakistan following the Pahalgam incident of April 2025 .
The move mirrored the Indian men's team's refusal to accept the trophy from Naqvi after winning the men's Asia Cup in 2025 .
The team departs for Japan for the Asian Games , with matches on the 18th, 20th, and 22nd , targeting a gold medal .
Saikia noted India women's recent achievements: 50-over World Cup (November 2025) , a Test win at Lord's , and now the Asia Cup.
The Indian women's cricket team on 14 September 2026 declined to receive the Asia Cup trophy and prize cheque from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi after clinching the title for a record-extending eighth time, mirroring a stand first taken by the men's team in 2025. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed the decision was deliberate and rooted in India's deteriorating diplomatic relations with Pakistan following the Pahalgam incident of April 2025.
What Happened at the Dubai Ceremony
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur and her teammates did not appear on the podium to collect the trophy from Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan's Federal Minister for Interior. The team had just sealed a commanding 72-run victory over Sri Lanka at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium to clinch the continental title. Naqvi's dual role — as ACC head and a senior Pakistani government minister — was central to the BCCI's reasoning.
BCCI Secretary Explains the Stand
Saikia drew a direct line between the gesture and the post-Pahalgam diplomatic environment. 'Our overall situation changed after the Pahalgam incident in April 2025,' he said. 'Following that event, citizens across the country called on us to sever all ties and refrain from playing cricket with the neighbouring nation.'
He was, however, careful to distinguish between participation and acceptance. 'Our central government has a clear policy that we should participate against every country in multi-nation tournaments. We respect and strictly abide by that policy,' Saikia said, adding that fulfilling international sporting commitments 'does not equate to accepting all conditions.' He elaborated: 'We simply cannot accept a trophy from one of their main leaders who acts against our country. Just as our men's team chose not to take the trophy, our women's team made the conscious decision to stand by that same move.'
A Record Run and a Rising Force
Saikia was emphatic that the protest gesture did not overshadow the team's performances. India went through the tournament without a single close contest, defeating Pakistan once and Sri Lanka in the final. 'Whether we win the trophy or not, the entire world — and everyone watching from India — knows how exceptionally well our women's team played,' he said.
He placed the Asia Cup win in a broader context of Indian women's cricket's recent ascent: a 50-over World Cup title in November 2025, a Test match victory over England at Lord's, and now an eighth Asia Cup crown. Saikia credited both the playing unit and the support staff for making the tournament 'so easy to win.'
Eyes Now on Asian Games Gold
With celebrations still fresh, the squad was set to depart for Japan via Delhi the following day for the Asian Games, where India's cricket matches are scheduled on the 18th, 20th, and 22nd. Saikia confirmed there are no immediate felicitation plans, stating, 'Our goal is to bring home the gold medal, and that is our sole objective.' The team is also, according to Saikia, already building its strategy for the 2028 ICC T20 World Cup.
Point of View
Applied consistently across formats and genders. That consistency actually matters: it signals institutional resolve rather than impulsive nationalism. Yet the tension at the heart of the BCCI's position — 'we'll play you, but won't take a trophy from your minister' — is a political tightrope that serves both sporting and diplomatic masters without fully satisfying either. The harder question mainstream coverage skips: how long can this calibrated ambiguity hold if India-Pakistan tensions deepen, and at what point does trophy refusal shade into a broader participation debate that the government's current policy explicitly wants to avoid?
NationPress
14 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Indian women's team decline the Asia Cup trophy?
The Indian women's team declined to collect the Asia Cup trophy from ACC chief Mohsin Naqvi because he also serves as Pakistan's Federal Minister for Interior, and India-Pakistan relations have significantly deteriorated since the Pahalgam incident of April 2025. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the team consciously chose to mirror the men's team's identical decision in 2025.
How many times has India won the Women's Asia Cup?
India have now won the Women's Asia Cup a record eight times. The latest title came on 14 September 2026 with a 72-run victory over Sri Lanka in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Who is Mohsin Naqvi and why is his role significant?
Mohsin Naqvi is the chief of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and simultaneously serves as Pakistan's Federal Minister for Interior. The BCCI's objection centres on his role as a senior Pakistani government official, which it says makes accepting a trophy from him incompatible with India's current stance toward Pakistan.
Did India still participate in the Asia Cup despite the diplomatic tensions?
Yes. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia made clear that India abides by the central government's policy of participating in all multi-nation tournaments, including against Pakistan. He drew a distinction between participation and acceptance, saying fulfilling sporting commitments does not equate to endorsing all conditions.
What is next for the Indian women's cricket team?
The team was set to fly to Japan via Delhi on 15 September for the Asian Games, with cricket matches scheduled on the 18th, 20th, and 22nd. Saikia confirmed the team's sole objective is to win the gold medal. The BCCI is also reportedly working on strategy for the 2028 ICC T20 World Cup.
