India’s women’s cricket team celebrated a significant victory in the Women’s Asia Cup 2026, defeating Sri Lanka by 72 runs. However, the post-match presentation was marked by controversy when the team declined to accept the trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi. The ceremony commenced approximately 40 minutes after the match concluded, starting with the presentation of mementos to match officials.
Sri Lanka’s captain, Chamari Athapaththu, received the runners-up cheque from Naqvi, but the broadcast ended before showcasing the Indian players receiving their winners’ medals or the trophy. Notably, prior to the ceremony, officials from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) engaged in discussions with the Indian players. Following a brief presentation of an individual award to Nandini Sharma, the Indian team did not return to the field.
Despite the circumstances, Indian head coach Amol Muzumdar emphasized that the team remained focused on their championship title, stating, “Trophy or no trophy doesn’t matter to us.” The backdrop of strained diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan, underscored by a no-handshake protocol between players from both countries, further complicated the presentation scenario. Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s interior minister and chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, left the stadium without presenting the trophy.
India’s triumph was achieved through strong performances, with Shafali Verma scoring 68 and Smriti Mandhana contributing 59, while the bowling unit, led by Shree Charani’s impressive figures of 4 for 20, restricted Sri Lanka to 111 runs.
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