India’s Asia Cup Glory and the Trophy They Refused to Take From Naqvi
India win their record eighth Asia Cup after beating Sri Lanka, but refuse to accept the trophy from ACC chief Mohsin Naqvi.
By The Slate Media Bureau
New Delhi, September 14: The Indian women's cricket team became champions of the Asia Cup 2026 after defeating Sri Lanka comprehensively in the final on Sunday by 72 runs. However, the team refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Asian Cricket Council chief Mohsin Naqvi. The head coach of the Harmanpreet Kaur-led team, Amol Muzumdar, backed the decision, saying winning the tournament is "good enough".
The Indian cricket team won the tournament for a record-extending eighth time. But it refused to take the trophy from the incumbent ACC chief, who is also his country's Interior Minister as well as the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
"That stand has been taken by BCCI and we stand by it. For us, this tournament is over. We're the champions -- that's good enough. It was on the big board that India champions of Asia Cup 2026," Muzumdar told reporters after the match when asked about not accepting the trophy from Naqvi.
"This tournament is over; officially over for us. We're happy that we've turned out to be champions. Now, we look forward to the Asian Games," he said.
The Indian women's team's refusal to accept the trophy from Naqvi was a repeat of the position first taken in the 2025 men's edition of the tournament. The Suryakumar Yadav-led side did not accept the winner's trophy from Naqvi to protest against the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people that same year.
Muzumdar said he was not aware of any possibility of the team receiving the trophy in the coming days.
"No news as yet. So, I cannot answer that," he said.
The men's team too has not received the trophy to date, as it lies locked at ACC headquarters in Dubai, with Naqvi insisting that only he will hand it out.
When asked if such instances should be stopped in sports, the Indian head coach replied,
"Well, as I said earlier, my answer remains the same, my friend. That the stand has been taken by BCCI and we're united and standing by it. Absolutely."
"For us, this tournament is officially over. The fact that we're champions, we're really glad and I'm really proud of every single person in this unit, including the support staff and the players, needless to say.
"We're looking forward to the Asian Games now. This is officially over," he added, referring to the quadrennial showpiece beginning September 19 in Japan, where both the Indian men's and women's teams will enter as defending champions.
(With PTI Inputs)
