Indian women's cricket team declines trophy from Pakistan ACC chief

The Indian women's cricket team declined to receive the Asia Cup 2026 trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, who serves as chairperson of the Asian Cricket Council and hails from Pakistan. The moment occurred during the trophy presentation ceremony, marking a notable display of the strained relations between the two cricket-playing nations.

The refusal to accept the trophy from Naqvi reflects the broader context of Indo-Pakistani tensions that have periodically affected bilateral cricket engagement. Relations between the All India Cricket Control Board and the Pakistan Cricket Board have been marked by diplomatic complications in recent years, impacting scheduling and participation in various cricket events.

The incident during the Asia Cup 2026 presentation has drawn attention to the challenges of conducting multinational cricket tournaments amid geopolitical sensitivities in South Asia. The Asian Cricket Council, which oversees continental cricket competitions, comprises representatives from cricket boards across the region.

This development comes as women's cricket continues to gain prominence in Asia, with the Asia Cup serving as a key tournament for regional teams. The tournament has historically provided a competitive platform for showcasing the growth of women's cricket in the continent.