India won the Women’s Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka by 72 runs on September 13, 2026, in Dubai, securing the country’s record-extending eighth title in the tournament. The post-match presentation ceremony drew widespread attention after the Indian players chose not to accept the trophy from ACC Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who simultaneously holds the positions of PCB Chairman and Pakistan’s Interior Minister.
BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla confirmed on September 15, 2026, that Naqvi raised no objection to the Indian team’s stance. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia had earlier said the board had made its position known to the ACC ahead of the final and described the move as a ‘conscious decision’.
“We discussed the matter among ourselves and decided that we would not accept it (the trophy) from him. It was our collective decision. He (Naqvi) also did not raise any objection to it. We informed our team accordingly, and he presented it to whoever he had to and then left,” Shukla said, as quoted by Dawn.
On the field, India posted 183 for 5 in their innings. Shafali Verma struck 68 off 39 balls, and Smriti Mandhana contributed 59 off 39 balls, giving India a platform that Sri Lanka could not chase down. Sri Lanka were bowled out 72 runs short of the target, handing India a comfortable victory and their eighth Women’s Asia Cup crown.
Why did India’s women’s team decline the trophy from Naqvi?
India adopted a formal policy of not accepting awards or trophies from Pakistani officials, and of not engaging in customary on-field gestures with Pakistan players, after a military conflict between the two countries in May 2025. The Indian men’s team had already acted on this policy at the 2025 Asia Cup, where players did not receive the trophy from Naqvi, setting a clear precedent for the women’s side to follow in Dubai.
The September 13 ceremony was delayed by more than 45 minutes, with players from both India and Sri Lanka waiting in their dressing rooms while officials worked through the situation. Because the BCCI had already conveyed its stance to the ACC before the match began, tournament officials were aware of the board’s position well before the presentation took place.
What did BCCI officials say about their own interaction with Naqvi at the final?
Shukla and Saikia were observed in brief, courteous exchanges with Naqvi in the stands during the final, and that drew some public criticism from sections of the Indian public and media. Shukla addressed the criticism directly, drawing a clear distinction between professional courtesies extended in a multi-team tournament setting and the board’s firm collective decision regarding the trophy presentation itself.
“What Saikia ji said is absolutely correct. When you are at a match, everyone is present there and interacts in a professional capacity. Therefore, I do not think there should be so much criticism over that,” Shukla said.
