BCCI opposed to not accepting Women’s Asia Cup from Mohsin Naqvi: Muzumdar coach

India Women’s head coach Amol Muzumdar said the decision not to receive the Women’s Asia Cup trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday, September 13, was taken by the BCCI. Muzumdar added that the team stood by the governing body’s decision and was just happy to win the title.

The Indian coach insisted that the events surrounding the presentation of the trophy after their 72-run victory over Sri Lanka it would not detract from India’s success, with the team not regretting the decision.

“BCCI has taken this stand and we stand by it. This tournament is over for us. We are champions. That’s enough. India’s Asia Cup 2026 champions were on the big board. This tournament is officially over for us. We are happy to become champions. Now we are looking forward to the Asian Games,” Muzumdar said at the post-match press conference.

“We’re really happy to be champions and I’m really proud of every single person in this unit. Including the support staff and the players, needless to say,” he added.

INDIA REJECT TROPHY FROM NAQVI

India beat Sri Lanka to win the title with a thrilling performancebut the post-match presentation ended without the team receiving the trophy from Naqvi.

The PCB chief was among the dignitaries at the venue, sitting alongside BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla and secretary Devajit Saikia as India clinched the title.

After the match, the Indian players gathered around Muzumdar and Shukla and Saikia joined in the celebrations. Meanwhile, Naqvi was seen interacting with other dignitaries on the field.

As the official presentation began, Naqvi handed over the check to Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu at number two. The ceremony ended shortly after Athapaththu spoke to the present and former Sri Lankan cricketer Farvez Maharoof.

Naqvi subsequently left the country along with other ACC officials, with the Indian team still without a trophy and a winner’s medal.

INDIA HAS GIVEN NAQVI TWO OPTIONS

BCCI secretary Saikia said that India was always against accepting the Asia Cup trophy from Naqvi but still offered two alternatives for the presentation. The first proposal was for ACC Vice-Chairman Khalid Al Zarooni to hand over the trophy to the Indian team. The second option, in line with recent practice, was for the trophy to be presented by a representative of the winning council.

But Naqvi rejected both of them, leading to a stalemate.

“The Indian team was always against accepting the Asia Cup trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, but still he was offered several options. BCCI offered Naqvi to hand over the Asia Cup trophy to the Indian team through ACC Vice-Chairman Khalid Al Zarooni, which of course he declined.”

“As per the recent norm, the board representative who wins the tournament can be allowed to hand over the trophy. But Naqvi remained adamant and the Indian team also refused to back down and refused to accept the trophy,” Saikia told India Today.

The latest episode comes against the backdrop of the controversy that followed the men’s Asia Cup final in September 2025.

After India beat Pakistan to win the title, he made the Indian team wait for more than an hour before the trophy presentation could take place. India reportedly requested that an Emirates Cricket Board official present the trophy instead of Naqvi, citing strained relations between India and Pakistan.

However, Naqvi rejected the request and claimed that the Indian captain would have to collect the trophy from him. The standoff resulted in an unusual end to the presentation, with an ACC official eventually seen taking away the trophy while the Indian players waited for him to take the stage.

– The end

Published on:

14 Sep 2026 03:00 IST