Asia Cup trophy row: BCCI secretary says both trophies to arrive soon
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia says India will soon receive both the men's and women's Asia Cup trophies, which have been withheld for a year.
Team India beat Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final to win the Women's Asia Cup 2026, claiming the title for the eighth time. But despite the win, the trophy has still not reached the Indian women's team. What is more surprising is that the trophy India's men's team won last year in the Asia Cup has also not reached India yet.
The Indian team had refused to accept the trophy from ACC chief and Pakistan cabinet minister Mohsin Naqvi. Since then, everyone has been asking when the trophies will be returned to India. The BCCI has now issued a clarification on the entire matter.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said Team India will soon receive both the men's and women's Asia Cup trophies. His statement makes clear that the process to obtain the trophies has begun. Saikia said, "We hope that not just the Women's Asia Cup but also the Men's Asia Cup trophy, which has not been with us for the past one year, will be given to us soon. We will get both trophies soon."
Saikia also said the BCCI had suggested that Asian Cricket Council vice-president Khalid Al Zarooni hand the trophy to the winning team, but this proposal was not accepted. According to Saikia, "Our stance was very clear. We were not going to accept the trophy from a person who does not work in the interest of his own country. We had suggested that ACC vice-president and Emirates Cricket Board official Khalid Al Zarooni present the trophy, but our suggestion was not accepted. So we had no option left but to boycott the trophy."
After Team India's win in the men's Asia Cup, Mohsin Naqvi had taken the trophy away with him, earning him the tag of "trophy thief". Despite the BCCI informing him in advance, Naqvi insisted on presenting the trophy at the Women's Asia Cup 2026 as well. The Indian women's team did not turn up to collect the trophy, forcing Naqvi to wait for nearly 45 minutes. He eventually had to leave the stadium out of embarrassment. A video is going viral on social media in which Indian fans are seen taunting Mohsin Naqvi by calling him a "trophy thief".
