DUBAI: India’s women’s cricket team did not collect the winners’ trophy after beating Sri Lanka in the final of the ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
The post-match presentation was delayed after the Indian players and coaching staff reportedly chose not to come out to receive the trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Trophy Presentation Delayed
The presentation arrangements had already been completed and the championship trophy was ready for the Indian team.
However, instead of returning to the presentation area, the players and coaching staff went back to their dressing room. Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu, meanwhile, collected the runners-up prize money cheque from Naqvi.
According to ACC sources, the trophy remained available for the Indian team. The sources also noted that the trophy won by India’s men at the 2025 Asia Cup had yet to be collected.
Naqvi was said to have maintained the same position he had previously taken and had not changed his stance.
Indian Team Celebrates Separately
Following their victory, the Indian players celebrated together away from the official presentation ceremony.
Head coach Amol Muzumdar addressed the team during a separate huddle and congratulated the players on their title-winning campaign.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and vice-president Rajiv Shukla later joined the celebrations and handed out medals to the squad, including Nandani Sharma.
Saikia also spent time speaking with the players while congratulating them on their successful tournament.
Similar Incident in 2025 Asia Cup Final
The situation has echoes of the men’s Asia Cup final in 2025, also held in Dubai, where India defeated Pakistan by five wickets.
Naqvi had been due to present the trophy to the Indian side on that occasion as well. India’s players accepted their individual awards but did not take the team trophy from him, leading to a delay in the official presentation.
After completing their successful chase, the Indian players celebrated by pretending to lift an imaginary trophy.
Naqvi later departed the venue with the official silverware, while India continued its celebrations without the physical Asia Cup trophy.
Tensions Between India and Pakistan
The latest incident came during a tournament affected by increased tensions between India and Pakistan.
India had also declined to shake hands with Pakistan players during their matches, adding further attention to the trophy presentation following the women’s final.
The Indian women ultimately celebrated their Asia T20 Cup triumph with their coaching staff and BCCI officials, while the official trophy remained outside their possession.
