IND-W vs SL-W Women’s Asia Cup final brings ACC chief Mohsin Naqvi back in spotlight

File | After the impasse with the Indian team in the Men’s Asia Cup final, Naqvi then left the venue with the Asia Cup trophy to the ACC office in Dubai. | Photo Credit: AP

The Women’s Asia Cup 2026 final featuring India and Sri Lanka will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, September 13.

The summit clash and India’s participation has brought Asian Cricket Council chief Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the Interior Minister in Pakistan’s Central Government, into focus.

Per protocol, Naqvi is supposed to hand over the coveted trophy to the victorious team. But this did not pan out as planned at the Men’s Asia Cup final in 2025 when India beat Pakistan in the summit clash.

The Indian men’s cricket team celebrated with an imaginary trophy after being denied the Asia Cup winner’s prize despite a five-wicket victory over Pakistan in the final in Dubai.

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Post-match proceedings turned chaotic. Pakistan players delayed the presentation ceremony for more than an hour after the final ball. India, led by captain Suryakumar Yadav, then refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi.

Once the ceremony ended, the Indian players celebrated instead with the champion’s banner. Adding a touch of humour, Suryakumar carried an “imaginary” trophy and mimicked Rohit Sharma’s slow walk from the 2024 T20 World Cup final.

The squad followed up with mock trophy lifts for the fans and cameras before resuming celebrations in the dressing room. Several players later shared photoshopped images of themselves holding a trophy on social media.

At the post-match press conference, Suryakumar expressed disbelief at the snub. “This is one thing which I have never seen since I started playing and following cricket. That a champion team is denied a trophy, that too a hard-earned one. I feel we deserved it, and I can’t say anything more. My trophies are sitting in my dressing room, all the 14 guys with me, all the support staff, those are the real trophies,” he said.

Naqvi then left the venue with the Asia Cup trophy to the ACC office in Dubai.

A few months later, Naqvi awarded the winner’s medals and trophy to Pakistan after the final of the Under-19 Asia Cup 2025 against India.

There was no Indian representative at the trophy presentation. Ayush Mhatre received the runner’s-up cheque from Mirwais Ashraf, the chairman of the Afghanistan Cricket Board.

It remains to be seen if a similar controversy ensues in the final on Sunday, if India prevails over defending champion Sri Lanka in the much-awaited final. Sri Lanka had beaten by eight wickets to lift its maiden Asia Cup title before a home crowd in Dambulla in 2024.