India’s women refused to collect the Asia Cup trophy from Pakistan Cricket Board chief Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday after beating Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final to claim a record-extending eighth continental title.
The decision echoed the stance taken by India’s men’s team after winning last year’s Asia Cup, when they also declined to receive the trophy from Naqvi, who is Pakistan’s interior minister as well as chairman of the country’s cricket board and president of the Asian Cricket Council.
India’s players instead celebrated their title without taking part in the formal trophy presentation, as tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours again spilled into a major cricketing event.
“That stand has been taken by BCCI (Indian cricket board), and we stand by it,” India coach Amol Muzumdar told reporters.
“We are the champions, that's good enough.”
The presentation ceremony was delayed by nearly 50 minutes before Naqvi handed medals to the Sri Lankan runners-up. The ceremony then ended abruptly, with India’s players presenting medals to each other in the presence of BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and vice-president Rajeev Shukla.
On the field, India had little trouble securing their eighth Asia Cup crown.
After winning the toss, India posted 183-5, powered by a spectacular opening partnership between Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma. Mandhana scored 59 and Verma smashed 68 as the pair added 129 runs in 12.5 overs.
Sri Lanka’s chase began positively, with captain Chamari Athapaththu making 36 and sharing a 58-run partnership with Vishmi Gunaratne, who scored 20.
But Sri Lanka collapsed from 62-1, losing its last nine wickets for just 49 runs. India spinner Shree Charani finished with 4-20 as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 111 from the final ball.
India’s emphatic victory secured the title, but their refusal to accept the trophy from Naqvi became the defining moment of the post-match ceremony.