The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has clarified that the Indian women’s team’s decision to forgo the trophy presentation ceremony at the Women’s Asia Cup was a pre-planned, institutional move. The board stated that it deemed participating in the ceremony inappropriate under current circumstances, a stance that was communicated to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) well in advance.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia emphasized that the choice was not intended as a slight against the tournament, the sport, or the opposing players. Instead, he described it as a firm reflection of the board’s established position following the May 2025 Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent Operation Sindoor. Since that conflict, Indian teams have continued to play against Pakistan to honor international commitments, yet they have ceased engaging in customary pleasantries, such as handshakes with Pakistani counterparts.
The issue gained prominence as the Indian team refused to receive the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, who serves as both the head of the Pakistan Cricket Board and the ACC, while simultaneously holding a ministerial position in the Pakistani government. Saikia distinguished between honoring sporting duties and the act of participating in a celebratory presentation, asserting, “Participation in a multinational tournament and the manner in which the trophy is received are two separate matters.”
Saikia reinforced that the BCCI remains committed to fulfilling its obligations as an ACC member, stating there was no intent to compromise the spirit of the game. He maintained that the team’s performance on the field remains the primary achievement and source of national pride, regardless of the trophy protocol.
Looking ahead, the board is focused on ensuring that the controversy does not impact the squad’s preparations for the upcoming Asian Games. Saikia congratulated the women’s team for their outstanding performance in securing the Asia Cup title and insisted that the focus must now remain entirely on their training and future objectives, rather than the recent trophy presentation impasse. The report also notes that but made it clear that the wounds of the Pahalgam terror attack have not healed in the country, saikia did not take the name of Naqvi or mention Pakistan in his statement. The report also notes that our focus is on the Asian Games and we do not allow any distraction at this stage from the preparation for the same,” Saikia remarked.
