India women’s team refuses to receive trophy from Mohsin Naqvi

DUBAI: Although the India women’s cricket team defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs to win the Asia Cup title for the eighth consecutive time, they did not receive the trophy. This is because, like the India men’s team, the women’s team also refused to accept the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and a minister in Pakistan.

The India men’s team had also refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi after defeating Pakistan by five wickets at the same venue to become champions on September 28 last year. Naqvi then left the venue with the Asia Cup trophy. This time he did not take the trophy away.

India won the Women’s Asia Cup final at around 11:20 pm. Since Naqvi, as ACC President, was scheduled to present the Asia Cup trophy, the India team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, decided not to receive it from him. As a result, even by 12:05 am, the presentation ceremony had not taken place.

The presentation ceremony was held later, but the losing team, Sri Lanka, was called. The Sri Lankan captain came and received the cheque for the runners-up team, after which the ceremony ended. Naqvi then left the venue. BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla and secretary Devajit Saikia were present at the venue then.

Saikia congratulated the players on their victory and presented the Best Fielder medal to Nandini Sharma. The players then returned to the dressing room.
Indian coach Amol Mazumdar later confirmed that the team would not receive the trophy from the Pakistani minister.