India win Women’s Asia Cup, but sportsmanship loses out

India’s women’s team declined to receive the Asia Cup trophy from ACC President Mohsin Naqvi after defeating Sri Lanka in the final, ACC sources said on Sunday.

The trophy presentation protocol had been fully finalised, and the trophy was available for the victorious Indian team, the sources said.

However, the Indian team itself decided not to receive the trophy from Naqvi, according to ACC sources.

The development marks another controversy involving the presentation of an Asia Cup trophy to an Indian team in the presence of Naqvi.

“Cricket once again has been overshadowed by politics,” sources said, while describing the Indian team’s decision as contrary to the spirit of sportsmanship.

It was the second such incident involving an Indian team within a year.

“The trophy is available to the winning Indian team,” the ACC sources said, adding that the previous trophy won by India was also available and was only awaiting collection.

“Our position has not changed,” the sources said.

The sources further said Naqvi had not moved “an inch” from his previous position and continued to maintain the same stance.

The Indian women’s team defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final to win the ACC Women’s Asia Cup 2026.

After electing to bat, India raced out of the blocks through Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma. The openers reached 57/0 in the Powerplay, with Verma striking four boundaries and two sixes.

Verma continued to attack and brought up a remarkable 24-ball fifty midway through the eighth over, the fastest fifty in Women’s T20 Asia Cup history. It was her 21st T20I fifty, her third of the tournament and her second in succession.