India wins Asia Cup, lifts a bottle instead
India beat Sri Lanka by 72 runs for an eighth Women’s Asia Cup title, then skipped the formal presentation involving ACC chairman Mohsin Naqvi. The BCCI says the decision was institutional and communicated in advance.
India’s eighth Women’s Asia Cup title was followed by a separate team celebration.
India won the Women’s Asia Cup on Sunday, beating Sri Lanka by 72 runs in Dubai. It scored 183/5 and dismissed Sri Lanka for 111, extending its record to eight titles. The trophy, however, took a different route from the champions.
The Indian team did not attend the formal presentation involving Asian Cricket Council chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is also Pakistan Cricket Board chairman and Pakistan’s interior minister. The ceremony was delayed by nearly an hour; India conducted its own medal presentation while Sri Lanka received its runners-up cheque from Naqvi. He then left the stadium.
This was not an impulsive player protest dressed up after the fact. India coach Amol Muzumdar said it was the BCCI’s decision, while secretary Devajit Saikia said the position had been communicated to the ACC before the final. A BCCI Women post later showed the team celebrating, with reporting describing Harmanpreet Kaur lifting a water bottle in place of the trophy. India remains officially champion. The ACC has not publicly explained the presentation arrangements or its response to the BCCI’s advance notice. The title is recorded; the ceremony is where the administrators misplaced the plot.