The Indian women's team defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final of the Asia Cup 2026 on Sunday (September 13). In the final match played at Dubai International Stadium, Team India restricted Sri Lanka to 111 after scoring 183 runs. After this, during the awards ceremony, the Indian team refused to accept the trophy from Pakistani Mohsin Naqvi. Apart from being the Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Asian Cricket Council (ACC), Naqvi is also the Home Minister of Pakistan.
Naqvi kept waiting on the stage but the team led by Harmanpreet Kaur did not come to collect the trophy. He handed over the medals and the check of the runner-up prize money to the Sri Lankan players and then the presentation ceremony was ended. After this, when Naqvi was leaving the stadium, the spectators started raising slogans of 'trophy thief'. However, Naqvi was empty handed this time. He left with the trophy after the Indian men's team won the Asia Cup last year.
Last year, the Indian men's team won the Asia Cup title by defeating Pakistan. At that time too, Naqvi had climbed the stage to give the trophy and there was a lot of delay in the presentation ceremony. This Asia Cup took place just a few months after the military conflict between India and Pakistan in May 2025. During the tournament, the Indian team had adopted a policy of not shaking hands with Pakistani players. After this, the team did not even take the trophy from Naqvi, due to which Pakistan was greatly disgraced.
When Indian players refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi, he left the stadium in anger. A man was walking with him carrying a trophy. Naqvi was accused of stealing the trophy. When this scene was seen again in the Dubai stadium on Sunday, the fans started raising slogans of 'trophy thief'. However, it did not seem to have any effect on Naqvi. He walked out of the stadium smiling shamelessly.
