Women's Asia Cup 2026: BCCI breaks silence on trophy handling controversy

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has commented on the controversial scenes at the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 final presentation ceremony. India were crowned champions of the Women’s Asia Cup 2026, clinching their eighth title after beating Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final.

However, the Women in Blue refused to collect the trophy from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. As a result, they weren’t handed over the trophy by any other official and had to return to the dressing room empty-handed, just like the Indian men’s team in 2025, who took a similar stance.

Following the incident, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia has shared the board’s views on the matter, saying that they respect the interests of the country.

“What happened today after the final is nothing else but a normal thing, keeping in mind the interest of our country and the respect of all our people. A large section of the people do not want India to play with one particular hostile country, but in spite of that, we are always playing. Our only concern is that we cannot receive a trophy from some persons who are not acceptable to us at this stage,” Saikia told Sports Today.

Saikia also gave an update on the Asia Cup men’s trophy, revealing that efforts are underway to bring it to India. However, there has been no cooperation from the concerned parties.

Still pursuing men's Asia Cup trophy: Saikia

“We are also keeping in mind the respect and solidarity with our men’s Asia Cup team. If you look at our men’s team, which won the Asia Cup about one year ago, the trophy is yet to come to our land. We are still pursuing that trophy. In all my meetings with the people responsible for keeping the trophy, they are not returning it,” Saikia said.

Saikia also revealed that the BCCI officials at the venue, namely Rajiv Shukla and himself, suggested that the deputy chairman of the ACC should hand over the trophy.

“We can say that the deputy chairman of the ACC can hand over the trophy. That was our request, so that all these controversies can be avoided, because everybody knows what is happening on the ground,” said Saikia.

The BCCI Secretary also hoped that both trophies would be handed to India soon as per the protocol.

Hope both trophies will be given to India soon: Saikia

“If that is the position, then how can we violate our stand and do something that is in conflict with our original position? The situation has not changed for the last one and a half years, and we hope that good sense will prevail and both trophies will be given to India at the earliest possible time,” Saikia concluded.

India have maintained distance from Pakistani players and their officials ever since political relations between the two countries were strained in the aftermath of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, in April 2025. The tensions also escalated on the border as the two countries engaged in skirmishes.

In the first meeting between the two teams after the attacks, India came up with a no-handshake policy with Pakistani players, a stance they’ve maintained across all age and gender teams.