India won the Women’s T20 Asia Cup in Dubai on Sunday and then declined to take the trophy from Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi, leaving the presentation ceremony without it.

Sri Lanka, beaten by 72 runs in the final, were the only side to go up. Captain Chamari Athapaththu received the runners-up award from Naqvi and spoke about her team’s performance. The ceremony then ended with the winners’ trophy undelivered.

What the BCCI said

Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary Devajit Saikia told the Indian news agency IANS that the decision mirrored the stand India’s men took after winning the Asia Cup in 2025, and was driven by Naqvi’s other role — he is Pakistan’s interior minister.

“Our military conflict is still ongoing. One of the main leaders who is working against the interests of our country; we can’t receive the trophy from him,” Saikia said. “The Women’s team has expressed solidarity with the decision taken by the men’s team last year.”

Saikia said Indian citizens had pressed the board to cut cricketing ties with Pakistan after the April 2025 Pahalgam attack, but that government policy required India to play all countries in multinational tournaments. “That doesn’t mean we will follow every condition laid out for us,” he said.

He added that an attempt had been made to settle the matter before the ceremony: “We tried to solve today’s situation, but our efforts were not successful. We don’t have any regrets.”

India’s head coach Amol Muzumdar told Al Jazeera the position came from the board. “That stand has been taken by the BCCI, and we stand by it,” he said. “The tournament is over. We are the champions, and that’s good enough.”

A 45-minute delay and no individual awards

Al Jazeera reported the ceremony started more than 45 minutes late — the match finished around 9:50pm and the presentation did not begin until 10:40pm. No individual awards were handed out at all, including Player of the Match and Player of the Tournament, and the Indian squad and coaching staff were absent when the awards were distributed. India’s players celebrated on the outfield instead.

Naqvi watched the match from the Royal Box alongside BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla, Saikia and ACC deputy chairman Khalid Al Zarooni. Asked about being seated near Naqvi, Saikia said it was “just a normal tradition — whenever anyone comes, we meet and talk with everyone.”

The episode repeats the men’s final of 2025, when India beat Pakistan and players waited more than an hour before leaving without the trophy.

Update (September 14): the match itself, and Muzumdar on the record

Two further filings on Monday add the cricket that the first accounts passed over, and put India’s coach directly on the record.

How the final was won. NewsFirst reports that India batted first and opened with a 129-run first-wicket partnership between Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma. Verma reached fifty off 24 balls — the fastest half-century in Women’s Asia Cup history — and was dismissed for 68 by Sri Lanka’s Chamudi Prabodha. Mandhana made 59. India closed on 183 for 5.

Chasing 184, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 111 inside their 20 overs. Chamari Athapaththu top-scored with 36, Nilakshika Silva made 22 and Vishmi Gunaratne 20.

It was India’s eighth title in ten editions of the tournament, the Daily Mirror reports, carrying Reuters copy. Sri Lanka were the defending champions, having won in 2024.

Muzumdar’s full remarks. “We stand by it. For us, this tournament is over. We are the champions. That’s good enough,” India’s head coach told reporters of the decision not to collect the trophy. “We are united … I am proud of every single person in this unit, including the sports staff and the players.” Reuters reports the decision was taken by the BCCI rather than by the players.

A wider pattern. Reuters notes India’s players have also declined to shake hands with Pakistani opponents before and after matches — a policy the women’s side continued when it beat Pakistan by seven wickets in the group stage earlier this month. India and Pakistan do not play bilateral cricket and meet only at neutral venues in ICC and ACC events. The two could meet again in both the men’s and women’s tournaments at the Asian Games in Japan, which begin later this month.

Sri Lanka’s award. NewsFirst reports Athapaththu received the runners-up cheque on her team’s behalf. Sri Lanka Cricket Transformation Committee chairman Eran Wickramaratne attended the final. Maharaja Media Network held local broadcast rights.

One detail the outlets put differently. Al Jazeera timed the delay at more than 45 minutes, with the ceremony beginning at 10:40pm after a finish at about 9:50pm. Reuters describes the presentation as “delayed by more than an hour before being curtailed just before the trophy would have been handed over.” The accounts agree the ceremony was held up and cut short; they differ on the length of the delay, and neither reconciles it.

Not reported

Neither outlet said where the Women’s Asia Cup trophy is now, or whether the ACC will deliver it to the BCCI by another route. Neither carried a statement from the Asian Cricket Council, from Naqvi, or from Sri Lanka Cricket — Al Jazeera reported that the ACC and the Indian board did not respond to requests for comment. Neither said whether Athapaththu or any Sri Lankan official was asked about the ceremony, nor whether Sri Lanka’s players received their runners-up medals.

Sources