‘Trophy chor’ returns again: Fans chant for Mohsin Naqvi after India Women’s Asia Cup triumph

“Trophy chor, trophy chor” rang out through the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday as Mohsin Naqvi left the presentation podium after India’s 72-run win over Sri Lanka in the final of the Women’s Asia Cup.India clinched a record-extending eighth Women’s Asia Cup title but Harmanpreet Kaur and her teammates failed to collect the trophy from Naqvi, president of the Asian Cricket Council and chairperson of the Pakistan Cricket Board.Naqvi remained on the presentation podium and handed over the check to Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu at the second place. The Indian team did not claim the trophy from him and Naqvi had to leave the stadium without handing over the trophy.The chant was a callback to the controversy that followed the 2025 men’s Asian Cup final.India defeated Pakistan in the final in Dubai, but the post-match presentation was delayed by more than an hour. The Indian players waited for their trophy and medals as visuals showed the Asia Cup trophy being carried away from the presentation area.The episode set off a wave of criticism and trolling aimed at Naqvi, with ‘Trophy chor’ becoming a recurring label used against him.The same chant rang out at the Dubai Stadium on Sunday as he left the stadium after the Indian women refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi.WATCH:BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia subsequently explained why the Indian players refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi.“Our men’s team won the Asia Cup a year and a half ago. And our whole situation, since the Pahalgam incident in April 2025, changed after that. So after that, pressure was put on us 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 in multinational tournaments…”“But that doesn’t mean we will abide by all the conditions given to us. Our military conflict is still going on. One of the main leaders who is working against our country’s interests; we cannot get the trophy from him. The women’s team expressed solidarity with the decision taken by the men’s team last year,” Saikia told IANS.Naqvi sat in the Royal Box next to BCCI Vice President Rajiv Shukla and Saikia during the match. Visuals of the officials talking to Naqvi also drew attention after the presentation.Saikia said the interaction was part of normal protocol during the match.“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’ll talk to everyone.”Saikia said efforts were made to resolve the trophy presentation issue but failed.“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.”