India insults Asia Cup trophy again: BCCI explains they are after another controversy

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has explained its stance on the Women’s Asia Cup trophy row. Despite winning the tournament by defeating Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final, the Indian women’s team refused to receive the trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi. After the controversy erupted again, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia took it upon himself to explain India’s decision on Sunday, September 13.

“What happened today after the final is nothing but a normal thing keeping in mind the interest of our country and the respect of all our people. A large section of people do not want India to play one particular enemy country but despite that we are still playing. Our only concern is that we cannot get the trophy from some persons who are not acceptable to us at this stage,” Saikia told Sports Today immediately after the final.

INDIA STAND ASSOCIATED WITH MEN’S ASIA CUP TROPHY

Saikia said the BCCI’s position was also affected by the outstanding issue surrounding the men’s Asia Cup trophy from last year. India won Asia Cup 2025 but the trophy has still not been handed over to the BCCI.

The BCCI secretary said the board wanted to maintain consistency in its stance and did not want the women’s team to do anything that might contradict the stance taken in relation to the men’s team.

“We also keep in mind respect and solidarity with our men’s Asian Cup team. If you look at our men’s team that won the Asian Cup about a year ago, the trophy is yet to arrive in our country. We are still striving for the trophy. In all my meetings with the people responsible for maintaining the trophy, they are not returning it,” Saikia said.

“If this is the position, then how can we break our stand and do something that is against our original stand? The situation has not changed in the last year and a half and we hope that common sense will prevail and both the trophies will be handed over to India as soon as possible.”

BCCI PROPOSED AN ALTERNATIVE

The Indian players had their own on-field celebrations after beating Sri Lanka. Head coach Amol Muzumdar addressed the team before the team held a medal ceremony where Saikia and BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla presented the medal to Nandani Sharma.

Saikia also spent time congratulating the players on their winning campaign. Meanwhile, Naqvi was seen interacting with other dignitaries as preparations continued for the official handover ceremony.

According to Saikia, the BCCI has already proposed an alternative arrangement that could avoid the controversy. He said the board had requested that the ACC vice-chairman hand over the trophy to the Indian team.

“We can say that the ACC vice-chairman can hand over the trophy. That was our request to avoid all these controversies because everyone knows what is happening at the ground.”

Naqvi eventually stepped up to the podium and handed over control at number two to Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu. After Athapaththu spoke to Farvez Maharoof, the ceremony ended. The broadcast did not show what happened next, with the live stream ending immediately after Athapaththu spoke to Maharoof.

“WE KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING ACROSS THE BORDERS”

Shortly after the handover ceremony was over, Naqvi was seen leaving the field along with other ACC officials. Meanwhile, the Indian team did not get a trophy from him. Naqvi later left the stadium but the trophy was not seen by his side or with the officials accompanying him.

Saikia claimed that the BCCI’s decision was not an attempt to create controversy but reflected the circumstances surrounding India’s cricket relationship with Pakistan.

“We know what is happening on the ground and what is happening beyond the borders. Everything is known to everyone. So we should not pretend that we don’t know anything and that everything is stupid. That is not the situation,” Saikia added.

The controversy has once again brought India-Pakistan sporting relationship into the spotlight. While India continues to participate in multinational tournaments involving Pakistan, the BCCI maintains a strong position in bilateral cricket between the two countries.

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Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

14 Sep 2026 07:51 IST