ISLAMABAD: India’s unusual standoff over the Asia Cup trophies has deepened, with the men’s and women’s silverware still outside the country after both Indian teams declined to receive their titles from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has now assured that both trophies will eventually reach its headquarters in Mumbai, but has provided no timeline for their return. The trophies currently remain at the ACC headquarters in Dubai.
Read Also: Victory Without Grace: Indian Politicisation of Cricket
Repeated Trophy refusal creates unusual situation
The controversy began after India won the men’s Asia Cup last year by defeating Pakistan in the final. The Indian team did not collect the trophy from Naqvi, who is also chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), leading to an unusual delay in the post-match presentation.
The same situation was repeated after India’s women won the 2026 Women’s T20 Asia Cup by defeating Sri Lanka in Dubai. The Indian team again declined to participate in the trophy presentation involving Naqvi. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the board had communicated its position to the ACC before the final.
Read Also: Asia Cup Trophy Saga Continues as BCCI Asks for Handover, ACC Chief Says ‘Come and Get It’
BCCI gives no timeline for trophy return
Speaking after the BCCI’s 95th Annual General Meeting in Mumbai, Saikia said the two trophies would eventually arrive at the BCCI headquarters at the Wankhede Stadium but declined to specify when.
“Asia Cup trophies, we hope it will come one day,” Saikia said, adding that he could assure that both trophies would “land up” at the BCCI office.
Saikia had earlier described India’s decision to skip the women’s trophy presentation as a “conscious” institutional decision, saying the BCCI had informed the ACC in advance that the team would not participate in the ceremony under the circumstances.
Read Also: India Faces Backlash After Refusing Asia Cup Trophy, Posting Edited Photos
The repeated refusal has turned what is normally a routine sporting presentation into a prolonged administrative and diplomatic dispute, leaving the two championship trophies without their winners having formally received them.
