India win Women’s Asia Cup but do not accept trophy

What the report says

India won the Women’s Asia Cup in Dubai on Sunday, beating Sri Lanka by 72 runs to claim a record-extending eighth title, but the champions did not take part in the trophy presentation. According to Al Jazeera, the ceremony was led by Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s interior minister, and India was not present when the trophy was to be handed over.

The post-match event was delayed for more than 45 minutes after the final ended at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu received the runners-up award, but the remaining individual honours were not presented, and India’s team was not called forward for medals or the trophy. The tournament’s official social media accounts did not post trophy celebration images, while India’s team account shared a group photo from what appeared to be an empty stadium.

Al Jazeera said no public explanation was given at the venue, and the ACC and the Board of Control for Cricket in India did not respond to a request for comment. The report linked the episode to ongoing India-Pakistan political tensions, noting a similar trophy dispute at the men’s Asia Cup last year. More broadly, the article said cricket encounters between the two countries have become increasingly fraught since renewed hostilities in 2025.