Mohsin Naqvi: India’s women’s cricket team lifted the ACC Women’s Asia Cup 2026 title in emphatic fashion, defeating Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final. Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, the Indian side secured its eighth Asia Cup championship and once again underlined its dominance in Asian women’s cricket.
However, after the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, the trophy ceremony became a bigger talking point than the match itself. The absence of the Indian players and team officials from the presentation stage immediately attracted attention, particularly because of the involvement of Mohsin Naqvi, the Asian Cricket Council chairman.
Amol Muzumdar Explains India’s Decision
Around 40 minutes after the final ended, the presentation ceremony began at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Sri Lanka’s players received their runners-up medals, while captain Chamari Athapaththu also took part in the post-match interview.
What stood out was that no Indian player or team official appeared around the presentation stage. Eventually, the ceremony ended without the Indian team receiving the Asia Cup trophy on stage.
Following the match, India women’s head coach Amol Muzumdar addressed the issue and made the team’s position clear. According to Muzumdar, the decision not to accept the trophy was taken by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and the Indian team stood firmly behind that decision.
Muzumdar said the team supported the position taken by the BCCI. He also stressed that, from the players’ perspective, the tournament had already achieved its most important outcome: India had won the championship.
India Focused on the Championship
The Indian coach pointed out that the stadium display had already declared India the champions of the Asia Cup 2026. For Muzumdar and his players, winning the title was therefore the biggest achievement of the tournament.
Rather than focusing on the presentation ceremony, the team has already turned its attention towards its next assignment, with the Asian Games now becoming a major priority.
When Muzumdar was asked when India would eventually receive the Asia Cup trophy, he admitted that he did not have any information about it. The coach said no update had reached him so far and, therefore, he could not comment on when or how the trophy would be handed over to the Indian team.
What Happened in Dubai After the Final?
After completing their impressive victory over Sri Lanka, the Indian players celebrated privately with BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and vice-president Rajeev Shukla. The team then left the playing area and headed towards the dressing room.
The official presentation ceremony began shortly afterwards. By that time, however, none of the Indian players or officials were present near the stage. Sri Lanka received its runners-up medals before the ceremony was brought to an end.
The incident immediately reminded cricket fans of the 2025 men’s Asia Cup final, when India also did not accept the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi. Naqvi is the chairman of the Asian Cricket Council and also serves as chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board and Pakistan’s interior minister.
India Answers on the Field
Despite the controversy surrounding the trophy presentation, India’s performance in the tournament remained the biggest headline. Harmanpreet Kaur’s team defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final to claim its eighth Asia Cup title.
The victory also carried additional significance for the Indian women’s team as it avenged its defeat in the 2024 final. While the post-match trophy ceremony generated considerable discussion, India ultimately made its strongest statement where it mattered most-on the cricket field.
With another Asia Cup title secured, the Indian women’s team has once again established itself as the dominant force in Asian cricket. For Amol Muzumdar and his players, the championship itself remains the central achievement, while questions surrounding Mohsin Naqvi and the trophy presentation continue to attract attention.
Also read: Women Asia Cup 2026: India Beat Sri Lanka by 72 Runs, Win 8th Title
Dubai, UAE | After beating Sri Lanka in the 2026 Women’s Twenty20 Asia Cup final, the Indian Team refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President and Pakistan’s interior minister, Mohsin Naqvi. On the matter, Indian cricket coach Amol Muzumdar says in a post-match PC, "That stand has been taken by the BCCI. We stand by it. For us, this tournament is over. We are the champions. That’s good enough… We are united… I am proud of every single person in this unit, including the sports staff and the players…" (Pic: BCCI)
— ANI (@ANI) September 14, 2026
