Devajit Saikia assures Asia Cup trophies will 'land up in BCCI head office'

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has expressed confidence that the men’s and women’s Asia Cup trophies will eventually reach the board’s headquarters in Mumbai. On September 13, India declined to accept the Women’s Asia Cup trophy from Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi after defeating Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final.

Naqvi, apart from serving as ACC president and PCB chairman, is also Pakistan’s interior minister. India’s stance against receiving the trophy from him stems from that political association. The episode echoed the scenes of September 28, 2025, when Suryakumar Yadav’s India refused to accept the men’s Asia Cup trophy from Naqvi.

With the ongoing Asian Games also conducted under the ACC’s umbrella, a similar situation could arise again. Both the men’s and women’s teams are strong contenders for the gold medal. Notably, Naqvi’s tenure as ACC president concludes in April 2027.

“Asia Cup trophies… we hope it will come one day,” Saikia said in Mumbai on Friday after the BCCI’s 95th Annual General Meeting. “I will not give you a timeline, but I can assure you that both the trophies will come up and land up in this BCCI head office at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.”

Meanwhile, India advanced to the semifinals of the Women’s Asian Games with an eight‑wicket win over Japan in the fourth quarterfinal at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin. Opting to bowl first, India restricted Japan to 57 in 19.5 overs, led by the world’s No. 1‑ranked bowler N. Sree Charani, who returned figures of 4 for 10 and dismantled the batting lineup.

In response, India cruised to the target, powered by Shafali Verma’s unbeaten 40 off 15 balls, sealing the chase with 15 overs remaining. India will take on Bangladesh in the semifinals on Sunday, September 20. It will be a repeat of the Women's Asia Cup, where both sides found themselves against one another in the first semifinal.