India’s triumph in the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 final in Dubai was followed by an unusual trophy presentation as the Indian team did not receive the championship silverware after defeating Sri Lanka on Sunday. The post-match ceremony became the centre of attention when Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi was involved in the presentation, prompting a section of Indian supporters at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium to voice their displeasure.
Indian fans chant ‘Trophy Chor Naqvi’ in Dubai
As Naqvi departed the stadium following the presentation ceremony, Indian fans inside the venue were heard chanting “Trophy chor Naqvi”. Videos capturing the chants quickly circulated on social media, drawing attention to the unusual scenes following India’s title-winning campaign.
The incident occurred after India’s players declined to participate in the official trophy presentation because of Naqvi’s presence. Although India had secured the Asia Cup title, the team was therefore not seen lifting the trophy during the ceremony.
The episode added a political and administrative dimension to what would otherwise have been a celebratory occasion for the Indian team after their victory over Sri Lanka in the final.
Here’s the video:
Fans chanted “Trophy Chor, Trophy Chor” when they saw Mohsin Naqvi leaving the stadium.😭🙏 pic.twitter.com/XljKlQLVHB
— 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) September 13, 2026
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India miss out on official trophy presentation
Naqvi attended the final in Dubai and later took part in the post-match proceedings. During the ceremony, he presented the runners-up cheque to Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu. However, the Indian players did not join the official presentation. Naqvi, who serves as both ACC president and PCB chairman as well as Pakistan’s interior minister, remained at the centre of the dispute over the trophy presentation.
The broadcast subsequently ended after Athapaththu spoke with former Sri Lanka cricketer Farvez Maharoof. Naqvi was later seen leaving the field alongside other ACC officials. Despite the absence of a formal trophy-lifting moment, India had already completed the most important part of the evening by beating Sri Lanka to claim the Women’s Asia Cup title.
The scenes in Dubai also revived memories of last year’s men’s Asia Cup final, when India’s men’s team similarly left without receiving the trophy following a standoff involving Naqvi. The latest episode has therefore extended a controversy that had already surrounded the previous edition of the tournament. With Naqvi again present at a major Asia Cup final, the decision by India’s women’s team not to participate in the official ceremony led to another unusual conclusion to the tournament.
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
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