BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has publicly supported the Indian women’s cricket team’s choice to decline receiving the Women’s Asia Cup trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board and current President of the Asian Cricket Council. This decision mirrors a similar protest staged by the Indian men’s team during their own Asia Cup victory roughly a year and a half ago.
The refusal stems from heightened geopolitical friction between India and Pakistan, which escalated significantly following the April 2025 terror attack in Pahalgam and the subsequent launch of Operation Sindoor by the Indian government. Saikia explained that while the BCCI continues to adhere to government policy by competing against all nations in multinational tournaments, the team is under no obligation to comply with every protocol or condition set by officials from countries involved in ongoing conflicts against India’s interests.
Regarding the trophy presentation during the final on Sunday—where India secured a 72-run victory over Sri Lanka—Saikia noted that the players preferred receiving the award from ACC vice-president Khalid Al Zarooni. He asserted that while the team remains committed to the sport, they cannot accept honors from a leader who is viewed as actively working against India’s interests amid the current climate, which remains strained since the events of April 2025.
Addressing claims of diplomatic discourtesy, Saikia downplayed the tension in the Royal Box, clarifying that his presence near Naqvi was not an endorsement of his role. He stated that he remained in the box from the toss until the conclusion of the match, engaging in standard social exchanges with various attendees, including BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla and Deputy Chairman Khalid. He emphasized that being present in the same space as an official is a matter of professional routine rather than a symbolic acceptance of their position.
The BCCI official acknowledged that efforts to resolve the impasse regarding the trophy ceremony were unsuccessful, yet he maintained there were no regrets regarding the stance. He stated that the primary focus of the board was ensuring the team performed well on the field to secure a comfortable win, which they achieved successfully. He lauded the women’s squad for their undefeated run throughout the tournament.
Looking ahead, the team is shifting its focus toward the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. The women’s T20 event is scheduled to begin on September 17, with India set to face host nation Japan in the quarterfinals on September 18. The report also notes that and our whole situation since the Pahalgam incident in April 2025 changed after that. The report also notes that so after that there was pressure on us from our citizens that we shouldn’t keep any relations with our neighboring country and not play cricket with them. The report also notes that “But that doesn’t mean we will play and follow every condition laid out for us,” Saikia added. “The country with which our relations were already bad and which have deteriorated considerably since April 2025 – our operation is still ongoing. The report also notes that “It’s not as if we wouldn’t meet anyone,” Saikia said. “I was sitting outside in the Royal Box right from the toss until the end of the game. The report also notes that the person you mentioned [Naqvi] also came and sat alongside Deputy Chairman Mr.
