India Women Decline Asia Cup Trophy, Echoing Men
India Women Decline Asia Cup Trophy, Echoing Men
Anonymous
Key Points
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The post-match presentation was delayed by nearly 50 minutes. Sri Lanka received its runners-up medals and cheque from Mohsin Naqvi, but the ceremony ended before India’s players were presented with their medals or trophy.
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While waiting for the official presentation, India held a brief internal ceremony: fielding coach Munish Bali presented the best-fielder medal, and BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia handed the award to Nandani Sharma, with BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla also present.
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The two trophies were reported to still be at the ACC’s headquarters in Dubai after the teams declined to accept them from Naqvi, rather than already being in transit to Mumbai.
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The dispute could resurface at the Asian Games: India’s men’s and women’s teams are expected to contend for gold, and Naqvi’s possible presence at a medal ceremony could create another confrontation.
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Head coach Amol Muzumdar said the team accepted the institutional stance and was satisfied to be recognized as champion, saying, “For us, this tournament is over. We are the champions, and that’s good enough.”
India's women's cricket team won a record eighth Asia Cup title by defeating Sri Lanka by 72 runs in Dubai, but refused to accept the trophy from Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi, who also leads Pakistan's cricket board. IBTimes reported the post-match presentation was delayed nearly 50 minutes, with Sri Lanka receiving its runners-up medals while India's ceremony was cut short. The decision mirrored the Indian men's team's refusal to accept their Asia Cup trophy from Naqvi the previous year, reflecting ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said both trophies would eventually reach the board's Mumbai headquarters, but offered no timeline. Cricket Addictor quoted Saikia saying the trophies will "come and land up" at the BCCI office. Coach Amol Muzumdar said the team supported the institutional stance, stating, "For us, this tournament is over. We are the champions, and that's good enough."
How India Bypassed the Official Medal Ceremony
While the official presentation stalled, India held its own brief medal ceremony inside the stadium. Daily Pioneer reported fielding coach Munish Bali presented the best-fielder medal to Nandani Sharma, with BCCI secretary Saikia also present and BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla attending. India's players received recognition this way rather than waiting for the delayed official handover from Naqvi.
Why India Declined the Trophy From Naqvi
Mohsin Naqvi serves as both Asian Cricket Council president and Pakistan's interior minister and cricket-board chairman. The refusal echoed the men's team's decision last year to reject their Asia Cup trophy from him. Business Standard reported Saikia said the decision was institutional and did not target Sri Lanka or the tournament itself, but the timing reflected rising India-Pakistan tensions in cricket.
Where the Trophies Are Now and What Comes Next
Both Asia Cup trophies remain at the ACC's Dubai headquarters rather than being in transit to Mumbai. IBTimes reported the BCCI is confident the silverware will arrive eventually, though Saikia gave no timeline for when that might happen. The dispute could resurface at the upcoming Asian Games, where India's men's and women's teams are expected to compete for gold medals—creating the possibility of another confrontation if Naqvi appears at a medal ceremony.
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