Dubai (Rajeev Sharma): India’s women cricketers ended their Asia Cup campaign with another title but stayed away from the traditional trophy presentation ceremony following their 72-run victory over Sri Lanka in the final on Sunday.
The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side secured a record-extending eighth Women’s Asia Cup crown, but the players did not take part in the on-field presentation, where the trophy was to be handed over by Asian Cricket Council chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
Naqvi, a Pakistani politician, heads both the ACC and the Pakistan Cricket Board and currently serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister.
Presentation Becomes Centre of Attention
The unusual conclusion to the final immediately revived the debate surrounding India’s interactions with Naqvi at Asia Cup ceremonies.
Rather than joining the post-match proceedings, the Indian players remained away from the field as the presentation ceremony went ahead.
The development comes almost a year after a similar episode involving India’s men’s cricket team. During the previous year’s Asia Cup, the Indian men’s side had also declined to receive the tournament trophy and medals from Naqvi.
India Completes Dominant Campaign
The presentation controversy came after India had delivered a convincing performance in the final.
A 72-run win over Sri Lanka ensured that India added yet another Asia Cup title to its record and extended its dominance in the continental women’s competition.
For Harmanpreet and her teammates, the victory provided a successful conclusion to their campaign. Yet the absence from the trophy presentation ensured that events immediately after the match generated almost as much attention as the result itself.
With the latest episode mirroring last year’s men’s tournament, the Asia Cup trophy presentation involving Indian teams and Naqvi has once again emerged as a major talking point beyond the cricketing contest.
