India’s women’s cricket team declined to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi following their victory over Sri Lanka in the final held in Dubai on September 14.
Contributions including half-centuries from Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, along with a four-wicket haul by Sree Charani, secured India’s eighth overall Asia Cup title and their fourth in T20I editions. India defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs in a one-sided final.
ADVERTISEMENT
Stay connected
Make The News Mill your preferred TNM on Google
During the award ceremony, Sri Lankan players received their runners-up medals, and their captain Chamari Athapaththu was presented with a cheque by Naqvi, who is also chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). However, Team India was absent from the stage during the presentation. After a post-match interview, the Indian players did not appear to receive the trophy, and the broadcast shifted to the post-match studio coverage without showing a trophy presentation, customary confetti, or celebrations near the stage.
Prior to the ceremony, India’s head coach Amol
Prior to the ceremony, India’s head coach Amol Muzumdar addressed the team, while BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and vice-president Rajiv Shukla awarded the ‘Fielder of the Match’ medal to pacer Nandani Sharma for her two catches. Saikia congratulated the team on their championship win. Despite these acknowledgements, no further visual coverage showed India collecting the trophy or engaged in on-stage celebrations with other dignitaries.
The incident continues a trophy dispute that began last year after India’s men’s team won the Asia Cup in the UAE. Following a victory over Pakistan, Team India refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi amid tensions related to cross-border terrorism. The post-match proceedings were delayed by approximately 90 minutes, and the trophy was eventually removed from the stage by an official without being presented to the Indian players. Indian players commemorated their victory independently, with skipper Suryakumar Yadav emulating Rohit Sharma’s slow walk and lifting an imaginary trophy alongside his teammates.
Throughout that tournament, the Indian men’s team refrained from shaking hands with Pakistan players and dedicated their wins to Indian Armed Forces personnel involved in ‘Operation Sindoor’ against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. India achieved a clean sweep in all three matches against Pakistan. To date, the men’s team has not received their Asia Cup trophy from the ACC chairman.
The unresolved situation has extended into the women’s
The unresolved situation has extended into the women’s Asia Cup, raising questions about the acceptance of the women’s trophy.
India’s dominant performance in the final included posting 183 for five before bowling Sri Lanka out for 111 in 20 overs. Charani’s four-wicket haul (4/20) and a record first-wicket partnership of 129 runs between openers Shafali Verma (68 from 39 balls, including nine fours and two sixes) and Smriti Mandhana (59 from 39 balls, including five fours and three sixes) underpinned the victory.
Source: thenewsmill.com
