September 14, 2026 :The Indian women’s cricket team staged a dramatic presentation boycott on Sunday night at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Players confirmed that India women refuse Asia Cup trophy collection directly from Asian Cricket Council President Mohsin Naqvi.
The decision followed India’s dominant 72-run victory against Sri Lanka in the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 final. When ACC officials requested captain Harmanpreet Kaur to accept the trophy from Naqvi, who serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister and PCB Chairman, the squad remained inside the dressing room.
Consequently, Naqvi presented the runners-up cheque to Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu before storming out of the venue.
Watch the Clip :
Indian women’s team has refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Mohsin Naqvi. Galib kehte hai – बहुत बे-आबरू हो कर तेरे कूचे से हम निकले. https://t.co/zgCTsuZh70
— Nitin K Srivastav (@Nitin_sachin) September 13, 2026
Dominant On-Field Performance Secures Eighth Asia Cup Crown
Before the post-match standoff began, the Women in Blue put on a masterclass performance in Dubai. Openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana set up a massive total of 183 for 5 after India won the toss and elected to bat.
In response, the Sri Lankan batting lineup buckled under relentless pressure from spinner Sree Charani, who finished with match-winning figures of 4 for 20. Sri Lanka managed only 111 runs in their 20 overs, handing India a record-extending eighth title.
| Match Segment | Player / Team | Stat Line / Impact | Key Contribution Details |
| Top Scorer | Shafali Verma (IND) | 68 runs (39 balls, 9×4, 2×6) | Player of the Match performance |
| Opening Partner | Smriti Mandhana (IND) | 59 runs (39 balls, 5×4, 3×6) | Built foundational 127-run opening stand |
| Pick of Bowlers | Sree Charani (IND) | 4 overs, 1 maiden, 20 runs, 4 wickets | Broke core Sri Lankan middle order |
| Key Support | Deepti Sharma (IND) | 4 overs, 19 runs, 3 wickets | Tight economy rate of 4.75 |
| Match Outcome | Team India | Won by 72 runs | Restricted Sri Lanka to 111/10 |
Timeline of the Dubai Post-Match Standoff
The post-match presentation ran into immediate delays as broadcasters conducted player interviews on the boundary ropes prior to the formal awards ceremony. BCCI officials handed internal team honors to players while negotiations continued in the executive suites.
Technical Compromises Rejected During Negotiations
Senior BCCI officials engaged in prolonged consultations with ACC representatives to break the deadlock. Board Secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that India offered two alternative options to hand over the silverware gracefully.
First, the BCCI suggested that ACC Deputy Chairman Khalid Al Zarooni hand the trophy to the winning captain. Second, they proposed that an Indian board representative present the award, following recent tournament precedent. However, Naqvi rejected both proposals, leaving the presentation incomplete.
| Diplomatic Proposal | Party Initiating | Proposed Action | Final Status |
| Option A | BCCI Delegation | ACC Deputy Chair Khalid Al Zarooni presents trophy | Rejected by ACC Chief |
| Option B | BCCI Delegation | Winning Board Representative presents trophy | Rejected by ACC Chief |
| Option C | ACC Official Protocol | ACC President Mohsin Naqvi presents trophy | Rejected by Team India |
BCCI Cites Solidarity With 2025 Men’s Team Precedent
Addressing media queries after the incident, head coach Amol Muzumdar supported the squad’s stance. He stated that the team stood firmly behind the policy guidelines set by the BCCI.
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia elaborated that the decision demonstrated solidarity with the Indian men’s team, who took the exact same stance during the September 2025 Asia Cup final in Dubai. Saikia pointed out that ongoing geopolitical tensions prevented Indian athletes from receiving awards directly from top foreign government figures.
The situation mirror scenes from last year, when Suryakumar Yadav’s team celebrated their victory on the podium by mimicking the motion of lifting an invisible trophy. The women’s team has now aligned with that precedent while focusing their preparation on the upcoming 2026 T20 World Cup.