Key Takeaways

• India defeats Sri Lanka by 72 runs to claim their eighth Asia Cup title.
• The Indian women's cricket team refuses to receive the trophy from ACC chair Mohsin Naqvi.
• This mirrors a similar diplomatic stance taken by the Indian men's team the previous year.
• The trophy remains unclaimed in the ACC office while Sri Lanka accepts runner-up awards.

The Asia Cup trophy impasse continued for a second consecutive year, marking a significant diplomatic rift in Asian cricket. On Sunday, September 13, 2026, the victorious Indian women’s cricket team refused to accept the cup from Mohsin Naqvi, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairperson and Interior Minister of Pakistan.

Harmanpreet Kaur-led India secured a decisive victory, defeating Sri Lanka by 72 runs to lift their record-extending eighth Asia Cup title. Despite this triumph, the players chose not to participate in the standard post-tournament presentation ceremony, signaling a continued protest against the presence of officials from Pakistan.

This incident recalls last year’s events, where the Indian men’s team similarly declined to receive the Asia Cup trophy and medals from Mohsin Naqvi. That diplomatic stance has persisted, with the Indian team yet to receive their trophy, which remains locked away in the ACC office.

In a distinct deviation from the previous year’s protocol, the Indian women’s team did not even return to the ground after BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia presented Nandini Sharma with an in-house best fielder medal. While the men’s team had conducted an impromptu celebration on the dais without the physical prize, the women’s squad chose complete absence from the field for the formalities.

Conversely, the Sri Lankan team proceeded with the standard procedures. They received their runners-up cheque from Mohsin Naqvi and accepted their medals from SLC interim chief Eran Wikramaratne. After awarding the prize to Sri Lankan skipper Chamari Athapaththu, Mr. Naqvi left the stadium immediately. Notably, unlike the previous year, he departed without carrying the trophy, leaving the symbol of victory untouched and unclaimed.

A Deepening Diplomatic Divide

The refusal of the Indian women's cricket team to engage with the Asian Cricket Council’s leadership underscores a complex intersection of sports and geopolitics. For years, the Asian Cricket Council has faced scrutiny over its governance and the political tensions embedded within its structure. The presence of Mohsin Naqvi, who holds dual roles as the head of the Pakistan Cricket Board and the Interior Minister of Pakistan, has been a point of contention for Indian cricket authorities.