India women back BCCI stand on not accepting Asia Cup trophy from Naqvi: Muzumdar
Indian women's cricket team head coach Amol Muzumdar said on Monday that the team fully supports the BCCI's decision not to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi, adding that winning the tournament was "good enough" for the players.
India defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final on Sunday to win the women's Asia Cup for a record-extending eighth time. However, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side declined to receive the trophy from Naqvi, who is also Pakistan's Interior Minister and chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
"That stand has been taken by BCCI and we stand by it. For us, this tournament is over. We're the champions -- that's good enough. It was on the big board that India champions of Asia Cup 2026," Muzumdar told reporters after the match.
"This tournament is over; officially over for us. We're happy that we've turned out to be champions. Now, we look forward for the Asian Games," he said.
The women's team's decision follows a similar stance taken by the Indian men's team during the 2025 edition of the tournament. The Suryakumar Yadav-led side had also refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi in protest against the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people that year.
Asked whether the women's team could receive the trophy at a later date, Muzumdar said he had no information about it.
"No news as yet. So, I cannot answer that," he said.
The Indian men's team has also not received its trophy, which remains at the ACC headquarters in Dubai, with Naqvi insisting that he would personally hand it over.
Asked whether such incidents should be kept out of sports, Muzumdar reiterated the team's support for the BCCI's position.
"For us, this tournament is officially over. The fact that we're champions, we're really glad and I'm really proud of every single person in this unit, including the support staff and the players, needless to say," he said.
Muzumdar added that the team was now looking ahead to the Asian Games, which begin in Japan on September 19. Both the Indian men's and women's teams will enter the competition as defending champions. (with inputs from PTI)
