Same venue, same drama. For the second year running, an Asia Cup final witnessed a trophy controversy in Dubai. While earlier it involved the India men’s cricket team, this time it was the women’s team. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side clinched a record-extending eighth Women’s Asia Cup title at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, defeating Sri Lanka by 72 runs. What followed was another Asia Cup row involving the Indian cricket team and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s Interior Minister. The final ended at 11:20 PM IST, while the post-match presentation ceremony did not begin until 12:05 AM IST (Monday).
What Happened After India Won The Final
Former Sri Lanka player Farveez Maharoof started the delayed presentation ceremony by calling the match officials and the runner-up Sri Lanka team onto the stage. The Sri Lankan team received the runners-up cheque from Naqvi. All the players and support staff received their medals from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) interim chief Eran Wickramaratne. Then, just when everybody thought it was India’s turn to come onto the stage, Maharoof abruptly stated that the post-match presentation ceremony was over.
At the other side of the ground, after the Indian team won the final, the players got into a huddle. BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla and secretary Devajit Saikia were present as well. Saikia and Shukla presented Nandani Sharma with the medal for ‘Best Fielder’. Saikia also addressed the players and congratulated them. After that, the Indian women’s team members returned to the dressing room.
Naqvi left the stadium immediately after presenting the award to Sri Lankan skipper Chamari Athapaththu, but unlike last year, he moved away without carrying the trophy.
Later, India coach Amol Muzumdar said that it was ‘BCCI’s stand’ to refuse receiving the Women’s Asia Cup Trophy from Mohsin Naqvi.
Not The First Time
The latest stand-off brought back memories of the 2025 Men’s Asia Cup final (on September 28), coincidentally held at the same venue, Dubai International Stadium, when India beat Pakistan in the final. The point of contention was the presence of Mohsin Naqvi. The stalemate continued for nearly an hour before Naqvi ordered the Men’s Asia Cup trophy to be taken away from the stadium.
The Indian men’s team is yet to receive the Asia Cup trophy, which has since been kept at the ACC office. Instead, the Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian outfit conducted an impromptu celebration on the dais without the physical trophy.
Dominant India Clinch 8th Women’s Asia Cup
Earlier, Shafali Verma and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana struck forceful fifties, while the bowlers, led by Sree Charani, produced an equally impressive effort as India crushed Sri Lanka by 72 runs to clinch a record-extending eighth Women’s Asia Cup title on Sunday.
Openers Shafali (68) and Mandhana (59) produced a symphony of power and grace during their 129-run stand in just 12.5 overs, guiding India to 183/5 in 20 overs.
The Sri Lankans managed to rein in the opposition’s middle order in the latter stages of the innings, but they were no match for the guile of the Indian bowlers, led ably by left-arm spinner Charani (4/20), and were bowled out for 111 in 20 overs.
Their main, in fact their only, hope was skipper Chamari Athapaththu (36 off 32 balls), who added 58 runs for the second wicket with Vishmi Gunaratne.
But seasoned off-spinner Deepti Sharma dealt a body blow to Sri Lanka’s aspirations, dismissing both batters in the 10th over.
Athapaththu tried to charge Deepti but was beaten in flight, and wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh did the rest.
Three balls later, Gunaratne attempted a sweep but was bowled around her legs.
At 63/3 after 10 overs, with the required run rate soaring above 12, the match was as good as over for the defending champions, despite India dropping five catches.
Earlier, after electing to bat, Mandhana, who scored her 36th T20I fifty, and Shafali, whose 24-ball fifty was the fastest in Women’s Asia Cup history, shut the Sri Lankans out of the contest. In fact, Shafali eclipsed the 25-ball fifty Mandhana made in the tournament’s 2022 edition.
With agency inputs
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