Mohsin Naqvi and Harmanpreet kaur [Source: AFP]India defeated Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup 2026 final on September 13 to lift the title for the 8th time, but the post-match celebrations were overshadowed by an unusual trophy ceremony reviving the India vs Pakistan rivalry. The Indian team did not collect the Asia Cup trophy from ACC President Mohsin Naqvi, who was present in Dubai for the presentation. The development immediately revived memories of the controversy surrounding the previous men's Asia Cup, when India had similarly refused to receive the trophy from Naqvi. The decision has now revived the strained India-Pakistan relationship, which earlier led to the no-handshake stance.Naqvi Present In Dubai, but India Women Rejects Receiving TrophyMohsin Naqvi was present at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium as the Asia Cup final reached its conclusion. However, despite India emerging as champions, the customary moment of the winning captain receiving the trophy did not take place.The development was particularly striking because Naqvi occupies two prominent positions in Asian cricket and Pakistani politics. He is the Asian Cricket Council president and also serves as Pakistan's Interior Minister, making his presence at a trophy presentation involving India politically sensitive.The situation mirrored what happened after the 2025 men's Asia Cup final. India had beaten Pakistan by five wickets in the title clash but declined to accept the trophy when Naqvi was due to present it. The trophy was subsequently taken back to the ACC office in Dubai instead of being handed to the champions.India's players still celebrated their triumph on the field, but the absence of the silverware created an extraordinary post-match picture.Also Read- Watch- Harmanpreet Kaur’s Mix-Up Leaves Smriti Mandhana Run Out In Bizarre FashionWhy India Women Rejected The Asia Cup Trophy?The decision was rooted in the fact that Naqvi is not only the ACC chief but also one of the senior political figures in Pakistan. After the 2025 controversy, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia explained that India had decided not to accept the trophy from the ACC chairman because of his political position.The backdrop to the dispute was the sharp deterioration in India-Pakistan relations following the April 22, 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people were killed. India subsequently launched Operation Sindoor against targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, while Pakistan carried out retaliatory military action before the two sides agreed to a ceasefire on May 10.The tensions spilled into cricket as well. India and Pakistan continued to meet in the Asia Cup because it was a multinational tournament, despite India's long-standing position against bilateral cricket with Pakistan. India won all three meetings in the 2025 tournament, while players from the two sides also avoided the customary handshake.The trophy dispute in Asia Cup 2026 was therefore not an isolated decision as it came after months of political and sporting tension surrounding the tournament.Who Will Get The Asia Cup Trophy After India Rejection?The most unusual part of the controversy is that India Women’s team remains the champion even if the trophy is not physically in its possession. Following the 2025 incident, the Asia Cup trophy was retained by the ACC at its Dubai headquarters rather than being awarded to another team.Reports stated that Naqvi maintained that the trophy would not simply be shipped to India and that Indian representatives would need to collect it in Dubai.The same fate might happen for the India Women team as well. India can be officially recognised as Asia Cup champions while the actual trophy remains with the tournament's governing body.Also Read- Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma’s Rampage In Delhi Sends Records Tumbling
