India Win Women’s Asia Cup, But Trophy Presentation Sparks Controversy
India’s women’s cricket team clinched the 2026 Women’s Asia Cup title in emphatic fashion, defeating Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final in Dubai. The victory secured India’s eighth Women’s Asia Cup crown.
However, the celebrations were overshadowed by an unusual development during the trophy presentation.
India’s players did not attend the presentation ceremony, where Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi was scheduled to hand over the trophy. The team returned to the dressing room instead, leaving Naqvi on stage with the trophy.
India dominate Sri Lanka in the final
India batted first and posted 183 runs, with Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma providing a strong start.
Sri Lanka struggled in their chase and were eventually bowled out for 111. India therefore completed a comprehensive 72-run victory and added another continental title to their record.
On the field, the Indian team produced a convincing performance. But the events after the match attracted considerable attention.
Why did India skip the presentation?
Mohsin Naqvi currently serves as the ACC president as well as Pakistan’s Interior Minister and chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
According to reports, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had already communicated its position to the ACC regarding the trophy presentation. The Indian team was reportedly not willing to receive the trophy directly from Naqvi.
The decision meant that the Indian players did not participate in the customary trophy-lifting ceremony.
The episode comes amid continuing political and diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan, adding a political dimension to what would normally be a routine cricket presentation.
Similar incident happened in 2025
The latest episode also recalls the men’s Asia Cup final in 2025.
India had taken a similar position after winning that tournament, with the team not accepting the trophy and medals from Naqvi. The presentation ceremony was subsequently delayed and the usual trophy-lifting photographs were absent.
A similar situation has now unfolded involving the Indian women’s team.
India remain the champions
Despite the controversy surrounding the presentation ceremony, there is no doubt about the result on the field.
India defeated Sri Lanka convincingly and were crowned Women’s Asia Cup champions for the eighth time.
The dispute was not over the trophy itself or India’s victory. Rather, it centred on the person who was scheduled to present the trophy.
The incident once again highlights how sporting events involving India and Pakistan can become intertwined with broader political tensions.
For India, the message from the final was clear: the team delivered where it mattered most—on the cricket field. But the absence of the players from the trophy presentation has ensured that the night will be remembered for more than just their eighth Asia Cup triumph