Indian supporters at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium were heard chanting “Trophy chor Naqvi” after the Indian women’s team once again did not receive the Asia Cup trophy despite winning the title on Sunday.
India beat Sri Lanka in the women’s Asia Cup final in Dubai, but the official trophy presentation did not happen after the Indian team declined to accept the silverware from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi.
As Naqvi walked out of the stadium following the presentation ceremony, Indian fans could be heard chanting “Trophy chor Naqvi”. Videos of the chants soon circulated widely on social media.
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The incident revived memories of last year’s controversy involving the men’s Asia Cup final, when India’s men’s team also departed without receiving the trophy following a disagreement involving Naqvi.
Naqvi attended Sunday’s final at the Dubai stadium and eventually came on stage to hand the runners-up cheque to Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu. However, the Indian players did not participate in the official presentation because of Naqvi’s presence. Naqvi is also Pakistan’s interior minister.
The broadcast concluded after Athapaththu spoke with former Sri Lankan cricketer Farvez Maharoof, while Naqvi was later seen walking off the field with other ACC officials.
WHY DID INDIA REFUSE THE TROPHY?
India coach Amol Muzumdar confirmed after the match that the BCCI had taken the decision for the team not to receive the trophy from Naqvi.
“That stand has been taken by BCCI and we stand by it. For us, this tournament is over. We are the champions. That's good enough. It was on the big board that India champions of Asia Cup 2026. This tournament is officially over for us,” Muzumdar said.
The Indian coach also acknowledged that he was unsure about when or in what manner the team would eventually receive the Asia Cup trophy.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia later revealed more about the discussions surrounding the trophy ceremony.
Saikia said India had made it clear from the beginning that the team would not take the trophy from Naqvi. The BCCI subsequently proposed alternative arrangements so the champions could still be presented with the silverware.
“The BCCI offered Naqvi that the Asia Cup trophy be handed over to the Indian team by ACC deputy chair Khalid Al Zarooni,” Saikia said. “Of course, he turned it down.”
The BCCI then suggested another possibility based on the recent practice of allowing a representative of the tournament-winning board to present the trophy.
“As per the recent norm, the representative from the Board which wins the tournament may be allowed to hand over the trophy,” Saikia said.
However, neither side was willing to accept the other’s proposal.
“Naqvi remained adamant and the Indian team too refused to budge and refused to accept the trophy,” Saikia said.
As a result, India celebrated its championship without being handed the trophy during the official presentation ceremony.
A SIMILAR CONTROVERSY IN 2025
Sunday’s episode occurred almost exactly a year after a similar controversy involving the Indian men’s team at the 2025 Asia Cup.
India had beaten Pakistan to claim the tournament, but the team reportedly waited for more than an hour before the trophy presentation was eventually supposed to happen. The Indian side had asked for an Emirates Cricket Board official to present the trophy instead of Naqvi because of the tense relationship between India and Pakistan.
Naqvi refused the request and insisted that the Indian captain should receive the trophy directly from him.
The dispute ultimately led to an unusual conclusion, with an ACC official seen taking away the trophy while the Indian players waited to come onto the stage.
The Indian team eventually left without the silverware, although the players celebrated the victory for the cameras and posed as if they were holding the trophy.
The women’s team’s decision on Sunday has once again brought the controversy surrounding Naqvi and the Asia Cup trophy into focus, while Indian supporters inside the Dubai stadium made their views clear with the chants.
