‘We can’t get a trophy from him’: Why India beat Mohsin Naqvi again in Women’s Asia Cup, explains Devajit Saikia

The Indian women’s team’s decision not to accept the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi was a show of solidarity with the men’s team. NEW DELHI: The Indian women’s cricket team’s decision not to receive the Women’s Asia Cup trophy from Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi was a show of solidarity with the men’s team, which took the same position after winning the Asia Cup last year, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said.“Our men’s team won the Asia Cup a year and a half ago. And our whole situation changed after that from the Pahalgam incident in April 2025. So after that we were pressured by our citizens that we should not maintain any relations with the neighboring country and not play cricket with them. But our government has a policy that we have to play against every country after they beat Srii Saikia in the multi-nation tournaments on Sunday at Lans’Saikia on IANS International Tournament…”“But that doesn’t mean we will abide by all the conditions that were given to us. Our military conflict is still going on. One of the main leaders who is working against the interests of our country; we cannot take the trophy from him. The women’s team expressed solidarity with the decision taken by the men’s team last year,” Saikia said.The decision evoked memories of the controversial presentation after the men’s Asian Cup final in 2025. India beat Pakistan in the final but the players waited more than an hour for the trophy and medals.This time, India completed a comfortable 72-run victory over Sri Lanka to claim a record-long eighth Women’s Asia Cup title. Harmanpreet Kaur and her teammates celebrated on the field, but the Indian side did not collect the trophy from Naqvi during the presentation.Naqvi was present at the stadium when India sealed the title, sitting alongside dignitaries including BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla and Saikia. He later went to the podium and handed over the runner-up check to Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu. The presentation then ended without India receiving the trophy from him.Saikia said the decision did not detract from the team’s performance.“It does not detract from our team’s performance. We have won all our matches in a one-sided fashion. Women’s cricket is growing so well in India and there is no greater proof than this. Our entire planning is focused on the ICC T20 World Cup in 2026. The happiest part of this tournament is how India has left everyone else far behind and has grown by leaps and bounds.”Naqvi’s presence alongside Saikia and Shukla in the Royal Box during the match also led to questions about the interaction between the officials.“It’s not that we didn’t meet anyone. I sat outside in the Royal Box seats right from the draw to the end of the game. When I sat there, I stayed in the same place throughout the match. Everyone who came met me during the match; someone sat next to me, then Shukla came and sat with me. The person you mentioned also came and sat next to the vice-chairman Al Khalid (Khalida) just a normal tradition. whoever comes, we will meet and we will talk to everyone,” said Saikia.Saikia said there was an attempt to resolve the problem with the presentation of the trophy.“We tried to resolve the situation today but our efforts were not successful. We have no regrets. Our main priority and ambition was not to focus on who will give the trophy. We wanted the Indian team to win and we did.”He also said that his interaction with Naqvi was not about the trophy. Presenting the medal in the field after the match, Saikia said the conversation around it was about India’s next task.“I also got a chance to put the medal in the field which is given out after every match. The conversation around it was about the Asian Games, not whether the trophy should be taken or not.”India’s focus now shifts to the Asian Games in Japan’s Aichi Prefecture. The team is scheduled to play on September 18, 20 and 22.“There are no such plans at the moment. Right now our focus is on tomorrow as our team leaves for Japan via Delhi. So all our attention is on the Asian Games starting in Japan where our matches are scheduled for 18, 20 and 22. Our aim is to bring home a gold medal and that is our only aim.”