The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side declined to accept the Women's Asia Cup trophy from Naqvi.
Following their dominating 72-run victory over Sri Lanka in the Women's Asia Cup final in Dubai on Sunday (September 13), the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side declined to accept the championship trophy and tournament medals from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi, who is also Pakistan's Interior Minister and PCB chief.
This move mirrors the stance taken by the Indian men’s cricket team during the 2025 Men's Asia Cup, where they similarly refused to collect the trophy from Naqvi due to heightened tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack and retaliatory Operation Sindoor.
A day later, BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla confirmed that the Indian women's cricket team's refusal to accept the trophy from Naqvi was a "collective decision" of the board. He clarified that the ACC chairman did not protest or raise any objections to the decision at the venue.
“We discussed the matter among ourselves and decided that we would not accept it (trophy) from him. It was our collective decision. He (Naqvi) also did not raise any objection to it,” Shukla told reporters after arriving at the Indira Gandhi International Airport with the team.
“We informed our team accordingly, and he presented it to whoever he had to and then left,” Shukla added.
Earlier, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia had stated that the decision was a conscious, institutional call heavily influenced by prevailing national sentiments and the board had communicated its stance to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) well in advance.
The BCCI had suggested that ACC Vice-President Khalid Al Zarooni or another board representative hand over the trophy. However, Naqvi insisted on presenting it himself, which led to the Indian team skipping the podium ceremony entirely.
“We had taken a conscious decision considering all prevailing aspects, and our position had been communicated to the ACC in advance, that the Indian team would not participate in the trophy presentation under the circumstances,” Saikia had told PTI.
Addressing photos of Saikia interacting with Naqvi during the final, Shukla dismissed criticisms, labeling them as normal, formal professional behavior in a multi-nation sporting ecosystem.
“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 remarked.
Rajeev Shukla also congratulated Harmanpreet Kaur’s troops on the Asia Cup triumph, and expressed confidence in the team doing well at the upcoming Asian Games in Japan.
“We became Asia Cup champions. Our women have once again made us proud and we will continue to win in the future.
“The team is now heading to Japan and we are fully confident that we will secure a victory there as well,” he said.
(With PTI Inputs)