Indian women’s cricket coach says the team’s decision not to receive the Women’s Asia Cup trophy followed instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
The decision by India’s women’s cricket team not to receive the Women’s Asia Cup trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi was made on instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), according to the team’s coach.
The revelation came during a press conference when the Indian coach was asked when the team would receive the Asia Cup trophy. The coach said he had no information about when the trophy would be handed over.
He further indicated that the players had not independently decided to avoid receiving the trophy. According to his remarks, the team acted in line with directions issued by the BCCI.
The development has added another chapter to the continuing controversy surrounding trophy presentations and other interactions involving India and Pakistan in cricket.
India’s women’s team reportedly followed a similar course to the men’s side by declining to receive the Asia Cup trophy from Naqvi after the final. The move attracted attention because Naqvi, who also serves as a senior Pakistani government official, was involved in the presentation ceremony in his capacity as ACC president.
Relations between India and Pakistan have remained tense in recent years, and political differences have occasionally affected cricketing events involving the two countries. Disputes over award ceremonies, handshakes and official interactions have previously generated controversy around bilateral and multilateral cricket tournaments.
The coach’s comments are significant because they suggest that the decision was not simply an individual choice by players on the field. Instead, the team followed instructions from its cricket board, placing the issue within the broader context of relations between the two cricketing administrations.
The incident has also renewed discussion about the separation of sports from political tensions. Cricket events, particularly those involving India and Pakistan, often attract considerable attention beyond the playing field because of the countries’ strained relations.
While the decision has triggered criticism and debate, the coach’s statement provides an explanation for the team’s conduct during the trophy presentation. The comments also raise questions about how administrative and political considerations can influence ceremonial aspects of major regional sporting events.
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