BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has backed the Indian women’s cricket team’s decision not to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi following their title-winning campaign in the tournament.
India defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the Women’s Asia Cup final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday to complete an unbeaten run and lift the trophy. However, the presentation ceremony became a talking point after the Indian players chose not to receive the silverware from Naqvi. The team was reportedly prepared to accept the trophy from ACC vice-president Khalid Al Zarooni, but the proposal did not materialise.
BCCI supports India women’s decision
Speaking to IANS after the final, Saikia explained that the situation between India and Pakistan has changed significantly since the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025 and the subsequent Operation Sindoor.
According to the BCCI secretary, India continues to participate in multinational tournaments against Pakistan because that is in line with the government’s policy. However, he stressed that playing cricket against a particular country does not necessarily mean accepting every condition surrounding such encounters.
“We are following that policy and abiding by that, the BCCI sends a squad to play every team,” Saikia said.
“But that doesn’t mean we will play and follow every condition laid out for us,” he added, making it clear that the board supported the women’s team’s position.
Saikia also drew a parallel with the men’s team, which had refused to receive the Asia Cup trophy from Naqvi after winning the tournament previously. He said the women’s side had taken a similar decision to express solidarity with that stance.
India-Pakistan cricket relations remain tense
Relations between India and Pakistan have remained strained, particularly following the Pahalgam attack and the developments that followed. Although the two countries continue to meet in multinational competitions, several traditional post-match customs have been affected.
The most notable example has been the absence of handshakes between players following matches. The trophy presentation involving the Indian men’s team had also highlighted the wider tensions between the two cricketing nations.
Saikia insisted that India’s participation in tournaments should not be interpreted as a willingness to overlook its broader position.
He also defended the interaction between Indian officials and Naqvi during the final. Saikia, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla and Naqvi were seen together in the Royal Box, but the BCCI secretary described the meeting as nothing more than normal sporting protocol.
No regrets over trophy presentation standoff
Saikia revealed that officials had attempted to find a solution to the trophy presentation issue but were ultimately unsuccessful. Despite that, he said the Indian side had no regrets about its decision.
“Our objective was not focused on who would present the trophy,” Saikia said. “Our only objective was for the Indian team to win the match comfortably and we were successful in it.”
The BCCI secretary’s comments underline the board’s position that the sporting contest remains the priority, while certain ceremonial aspects can be treated separately.
India women turn focus towards the Asian Games
With the Asia Cup campaign successfully completed, the Indian women team will now shift their attention towards the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.
The women’s T20 competition is scheduled to begin on September 17, with India set to face hosts Japan in the quarterfinals on September 18.
Having secured the Asia Cup without a defeat, the Indian team will enter the Asian Games with considerable confidence. The challenge now will be to carry that momentum into another major international competition.
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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
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