The script was painfully familiar. Twelve months after Suryakumar Yadav’s Indian men’s team returned home without the Asia Cup trophy despite winning the tournament, Harmanpreet Kaur’s women’s side has had to endure the exact same experience. India beat Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final in Dubai, claimed the Asia Cup women’s championship fair and square, and then came home empty-handed. The silverware stayed behind.
The reason, as it was last year, was Mohsin Naqvi.
The Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, who currently heads the Asian Cricket Council, arrived at Dubai International Stadium minutes before the final ball was bowled and insisted on presenting the winners’ trophy himself. India’s position was what it has consistently been: that was not acceptable. The brief and delayed presentation ceremony eventually concluded without the winners receiving either the trophy or their medals.
Why the Mohsin Naqvi Trophy Row Refuses to Go Away
Behind the scenes, there were discussions over how the post-match formalities could be handled. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia indicated that ACC vice-president Khalid Al Zarooni could present the trophy as a workable compromise, a position he also communicated publicly to Aaj Tak. Mohsin Naqvi, however, did not relent. He stood on the podium and handed the runners-up cheque to the Sri Lankan team. Al Zarooni, Sri Lanka Cricket Transformation Committee head Eran Wickramaratne, Emirates Cricket Board secretary general Mubashir Usmani and a DP World representative were also present on the dais. Saikia and BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla were at the ground but did not step onto the stage or share it with Naqvi. They remained with the Indian contingent on the ground throughout.
“It was the same old story,” a source with knowledge of the situation said. “Naqvi wanted to present the trophy, but the Indian team said no. So the compromise was to go ahead with the ceremony without the presentation of the winners’ trophy. So there was neither a trophy nor medals for the Indian players.”
India head coach Amol Muzumdar, when asked about the episode afterwards, kept his response measured but unambiguous. “That stand has been taken by the BCCI, and we stand by it. For us, this tournament is over. We are the champions. That’s good enough,” he said. He repeated the sentiment when pressed further. “The fact that we are champions, we are really glad, and I am really proud of every single person in this unit. We are looking forward to the Asian Games now. This is officially over.”
The backdrop to all of this matters. The men’s Asia Cup last year was played in the charged atmosphere that followed the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, making the trophy impasse at that tournament a product of an exceptionally sensitive moment. A year on, with the political temperature still elevated, nothing has changed. The BCCI’s stance remains firm, and with Mohsin Naqvi showing no inclination to step aside from presenting trophies at ACC events, there is little to suggest the two sides are any closer to a resolution.
India are Asia Cup champions. The scoreboard in Dubai confirmed it. The trophy, for the second time in twelve months, tells a different story.
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