India Refuses Women’s Asia Cup Trophy from Pakistani ACC President

India’s women’s cricket team refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi after defeating Sri Lanka in the final in Dubai on Sunday, repeating a similar stance taken by India’s men’s team last year.

India beat defending champions Sri Lanka by 72 runs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium to win the continental title for the eighth time in 10 editions.

Naqvi, who is also chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Pakistan’s interior minister, was scheduled to present the trophy. The Indian team’s decision to decline it reflected the strained political relations between the two neighbouring countries.

Indian coach Amol Muzumdar told reporters that the decision was taken by the country’s cricket board. “We stand by it. For us, this tournament is over. We are the champions. That’s good enough,” he said.

Muzumdar also praised the unity of the team, saying he was proud of the players and support staff.

India and Pakistan have not played bilateral cricket for years and currently meet only in International Cricket Council (ICC) and ACC tournaments, generally at neutral venues. The two countries were also involved in a brief military conflict last year that raised fears of a wider escalation.

India similarly refused to receive the men’s Asia Cup trophy from Naqvi after defeating Pakistan in the final in Dubai in September 2025. On that occasion, the presentation ceremony was delayed by more than an hour before being curtailed shortly before the trophy was due to be handed over.

Indian players have also declined to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts before or after matches. The women’s team followed the same approach earlier this month when it defeated Pakistan by seven wickets in the Asia Cup group stage.

The latest episode adds a political dimension to cricketing encounters between the two South Asian rivals, whose sporting relationship remains closely affected by broader bilateral tensions.

India and Pakistan could meet again later this month at the Asian Games in Japan, where both countries are set to participate in the men’s and women’s cricket competitions.