Indian Women Refuse Asia Cup Trophy
India’s women’s cricket team declined to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Asian Cricket Council chairman Mohsin Naqvi after defeating Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final in Dubai.
The Indian women’s cricket team did not accept the Women’s Asia Cup trophy from Asian Cricket Council chairman Mohsin Naqvi after winning the tournament in Dubai, extending the Asia Cup trophy impasse for a second consecutive year. (The Tribune)
Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, India defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final to secure a record-extending eighth Women’s Asia Cup title. Despite the victory, the Indian players did not return to the field for the post-tournament presentation ceremony. (The Tribune)
India head coach Amol Muzumdar said the decision reflected the BCCI’s position and stressed that the team remained the official champion regardless of whether it physically received the trophy. (NDTV Sports)
The situation echoed the previous year’s men’s Asia Cup, when the Indian men’s team also declined to receive the trophy and medals from Naqvi. Besides serving as chairman of the Asian Cricket Council, Naqvi heads the Pakistan Cricket Board and is Pakistan’s interior minister. (The Tribune)
Before the presentation ceremony, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia presented Nandini Sharma with the Indian team’s in-house Best Fielder medal. The Indian players subsequently stayed away from the main presentation. (The Tribune)
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, participated in the presentation ceremony. Its players and support staff received medals from Sri Lanka Cricket interim chief Eran Wickramaratne, while captain Chamari Athapaththu received the runners-up award from Naqvi. (The Tribune)
Naqvi left the stadium after presenting the award to the Sri Lankan captain. Unlike the previous year’s men’s tournament, he departed without taking the Asia Cup trophy with him. (The Tribune)