India’s women’s cricket team declined to accept the 2026 Women’s Asia Cup trophy from Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi after defeating Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
The post-match presentation was delayed for nearly an hour. Match officials received their mementoes, while Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu and her teammates collected their runners-up medals and cheque. However, India’s players did not appear on the presentation stage to receive the winners’ medals or trophy from Naqvi.
Naqvi is also Pakistan’s Interior Minister and chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board. Reports said the Board of Control for Cricket in India had informed the ACC before the final that its players would not receive the trophy from him.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the women’s team’s decision was consistent with the position taken by India’s men’s team after winning the 2025 Asia Cup. Head coach Amol Muzumdar also supported the board’s stance, stressing that India remained the official champion despite not collecting the trophy during the ceremony.
India Dominate Sri Lanka in Final
The presentation controversy followed a commanding performance by Harmanpreet Kaur’s team.
After choosing to bat, India posted 183 for five. Shafali Verma struck 68, while vice-captain Smriti Mandhana scored 59. The opening pair added 129 runs and placed India firmly in control of the contest.
Shafali reached her half-century from only 24 balls, reportedly recording the fastest fifty in Women’s Asia Cup history.
Sri Lanka were subsequently dismissed for 111 in 20 overs. Left-arm spinner Sree Charani led India’s attack with four wickets, while Deepti Sharma claimed three as the defending champions struggled to keep pace with the required run rate.
The victory gave India a record-extending eighth Women’s Asia Cup title and helped the team avenge its defeat against Sri Lanka in the 2024 final.
The trophy episode echoed the 2025 Men’s Asia Cup presentation, when India’s men also declined to collect the prize from Naqvi. That incident similarly ended without the winning captain lifting the trophy on stage.
Despite the latest dispute, India’s players celebrated their dominant campaign together and are expected to shift their attention towards the 2026 Asian Games in Japan.
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