Sign in

BCCI reveals Mohsin Naqvi’s reaction after India refused Asia Cup trophy from him: 'He did not raise any objection'

BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla later revealed Mohsin Naqvi's reaction to the Indian board's stance.

Updated on: Sep 15, 2026, 07:56:46 IST
Written by
Share
Share via
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
Copy link
  • copy link

It was deja vu in Dubai on Sunday evening after the Indian women's cricket team won the Asia Cup, beating Sri Lanka by 72 runs. Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi was kept waiting on the presentation podium as the Indian players refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy from him. Naqvi presented the runners-up cheque to the Sri Lankan team before leaving the venue.

Indian team did not accept the Asia Cup trophy from Mohsin Naqvi
Indian team did not accept the Asia Cup trophy from Mohsin Naqvi

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that ACC officials had been informed before the final that, should India win, the players would not accept the trophy from Naqvi, who is also the head of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and serves in the Pakistan cabinet. BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla later revealed Naqvi's reaction to the Indian board's stance.

Speaking to reporters after arriving at the Indira Gandhi International Airport with the team, Shukla said Naqvi did not object and instead presented the trophy to "whoever he had to" before leaving.

Deep Dive

Powered ByFAQAsk HT

"We discussed the matter among ourselves and decided that we would not accept it (trophy) from him. It was our collective decision. He (Naqvi) also did not raise any objection to it," Shukla said. "We informed our team accordingly, and he presented it to whoever he had to and then left."

Earlier, Saikia had explained that the women's team's decision was intended to show solidarity with the men's team's stance during the 2025 Asia Cup, when the Suryakumar Yadav-led side refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025.

Images had earlier emerged of Saikia talking to Naqvi during the Asia Cup final, but Shukla said it was merely a "routine interaction."

"What Saikia ji said is absolutely correct. When you are at a match, everyone is present there and interacts in a professional capacity. Therefore, I do not think there should be so much criticism over that," he said.

Shukla also congratulated the team on its Asia Cup triumph and expressed confidence in the side doing well at the upcoming Asian Games in Japan.

"We became Asia Cup champions. Our women have once again made us proud and we will continue to win in the future.

"The team is now heading to Japan and we are fully confident that we will secure a victory there as well," he said.

  • Aratrick Mondal
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Aratrick Mondal

    Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

Get live cricket scores, match updates, schedules, results and ICC rankings. Follow the latest news, statistics and performances of top teams and players on Hindustan Times.