BCCI’s Institutional Stand: Why India’s Women Won’t Accept the Asia Cup Trophy

When the Indian women’s cricket team lifted the 2026 Asia Cup, the usual fanfare that follows a trophy win was conspicuously missing. Instead of a jubilant hand‑over from Mohsin Naqvi – the Pakistani official who also heads the ACC – the BCCI opted to keep its distance.

Devajit Saikia, the BCCI secretary, put it plainly in a statement to Cricbuzz on Monday: the board had made a “conscious decision” not to take part in the presentation. He added that this stance had already been communicated to the Asian Cricket Council well before the ceremony was scheduled in Dubai.

Saikia didn’t name Naqvi or even mention Pakistan directly, but the subtext was unmistakable. The wounds from the tragic Pahalgam terror attack in 2025 remain raw for many in India. That attack prompted India’s Operation Sindoor later that year, a retaliatory strike that has left a lingering bitterness in the sporting arena.

Since then, Indian teams have been careful – even hesitant – about the usual niceties on the field. Handshakes with Pakistani opponents have become rare, and the idea of accepting a trophy from a Pakistani official was deemed “inappropriate” given the prevailing sentiments.

“Given the circumstances and the sentiments prevailing in the country, the BCCI felt that it would not be appropriate for the team to receive the trophy in the proposed manner,” Saikia said. He emphasized that this was an institutional decision, not a personal jab at any player, the tournament, or the sport itself.

The board made it clear that playing in the Asia Cup was about fulfilling international commitments as an ACC member, not about compromising on the spirit of the game. Participation and the manner of trophy reception, he noted, are two separate matters.

While the trophy drama sparked a flurry of headlines, Saikia redirected the conversation back to the crux of the matter: the team’s performance. “The Indian women’s team has done what matters most – they have won the Asia Cup through outstanding play on the field,” he said, adding that the nation is proud of the achievement.

Looking ahead, the BCCI insisted that the trophy episode will not distract the squad from its next big target – the Asian Games. Preparation, focus, and the pride of representing India remain the priorities, he concluded.