Dubai, September 14, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the Indian women’s cricket team’s decision to decline the Asia Cup trophy and prize cheque from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi reflected the same stance adopted by the men’s team after winning the continental tournament in 2025.
India defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium to win the women’s Asia Cup for a record-extending eighth time. However, Harmanpreet Kaur and her teammates did not attend the presentation ceremony to receive the trophy from Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Interior.
Saikia said the decision was consistent with the BCCI’s position following the deterioration in relations between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam incident in April 2025.
“Our overall situation changed after the Pahalgam incident in April 2025. Following that event, citizens across the country called on us to sever all ties and refrain from playing cricket with the neighbouring nation,” Saikia told IANS.
He said the BCCI continues to follow the Indian government’s policy of participating in multi-nation tournaments, while making clear that such participation does not mean accepting every condition surrounding those engagements.
“Our central government has a clear policy that we should participate against every country in multi-nation tournaments. We respect and strictly abide by that policy,” Saikia said.
He added that India’s deteriorated relations with Pakistan meant the team could not accept the trophy from “one of their main leader who acts against our country”.
“Just as our men’s team chose not to take the trophy, our women’s team made the conscious decision to stand by that same move,” he said.
Saikia stressed that the trophy presentation controversy did not take away from India’s dominant campaign. He said the team had won every match convincingly and described the rise of women’s cricket in India as a source of immense pride.
The BCCI secretary pointed to India’s 50-over World Cup triumph last November and the team’s Test victory over England at Lord’s as further evidence of its progress. He also said India would now turn its attention to the Asian Games in Japan, with matches scheduled for September 18, 20 and 22, and an objective of winning the gold medal.
“At the moment, our goal is to bring home the gold medal, and that is our sole objective,” Saikia said, adding that there were currently no plans for a separate felicitation ceremony for the Asia Cup-winning side.
Saikia also praised the players and support staff for their contribution to the title triumph, saying the team’s performance had brought pride to the country.
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