Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi did not object to the Indian women’s team not taking the Asia Cup trophy from him, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Vice President Rajeev Shukla said on Monday.
India beat Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final game of the tournament on Sunday in Dubai to clinch the Women’s Asia Cup, but refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s interior minister and chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Shukla said that the BCCI took the decision with the team and they had made it known beforehand to the team for the presentation.
“We had a discussion among ourselves and we decided that we are not taking it from him. He also had no objections to it”, Shukla said in a statement to Press Trust of India (PTI).
He said the Indian team had been notified of the decision, while Naqvi had gone ahead with the presentation.
The clarification was sought as Shukla and BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia got criticism for holding a friendly chat with Naqvi in the final, although India had refused to take the trophy.
Shukla said the interaction was routine and it must not be looked at as inconsistent with the stance of the BCCI.
“Everyone is there and acting in a professional manner at the match; what Saikia ji said is absolutely correct,” he said.
Saikia had earlier stated that the BCCI had notified the ACC prior to the final that the players would not attend the trophy presentation if Naqvi is there.
The decision comes as part of a broader policy implemented by the Indian Cricket teams following the war between India and Pakistan in May of the previous year. Since then, Indian teams have not shaken hands with the Pakistani players and have refused the trophies from the Pakistani officials.
The stance was also displayed during the Asia Cup tournament in 2025, when India was not ready to shake hands with Pakistan team members.
The BCCI has now adopted the same stance at the women’s Asia Cup in Dubai.