Zillar Barta Desk,Dubai : India women’s cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur and her teammates reportedly refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy after defeating Sri Lanka Women in the final in Dubai, a development that had been anticipated ahead of the presentation ceremony.
According to reports, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had informed the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) in advance that the Indian team would not accept the trophy if ACC President Mohsin Naqvi attended the presentation ceremony and India emerged victorious.
Naqvi currently holds several prominent positions. Along with serving as the president of the ACC, he is Pakistan’s Interior Minister and also chairs the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
The reported decision added a political dimension to the trophy presentation following India’s victory over Sri Lanka in the final. Rather than accepting the trophy directly from Naqvi, the Indian players maintained their stance during the ceremony.
The incident has drawn significant attention in the cricketing world, highlighting the continuing sensitivities surrounding sporting ties between India and Pakistan.
India’s victory nevertheless capped a successful campaign for Harmanpreet Kaur and her team, who secured the Asia Cup title after a strong performance in the tournament.
The episode surrounding the trophy presentation is now expected to remain a major talking point alongside India’s on-field achievement.
