India Skips Asia Cup Trophy Ceremony

The Indian women's cricket team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, won the Asia Cup 2026 title by defeating Sri Lanka by 72 runs in Dubai. However, the team did not participate in the official trophy presentation ceremony, refusing to accept the trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairman Mohsin Naqvi.

The decision has raised questions about the role of the ACC chief in the trophy presentation. However, a look at the 2022 Asia Cup final suggests that the ACC president has not always been the one to present the trophy to the winning captain. In the 2022 men's Asia Cup final, Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka received the trophy from Sri Lanka Cricket president Shammi Silva, despite ACC President Jay Shah being in office at the time.

This precedent was followed again in the 2024 Women's Asia Cup, where Silva presented the trophy to the Sri Lankan women's team. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has pointed to these examples, questioning the change in the trophy presentation practice. The 2022 incident shows that the ACC president's presence does not necessarily mean they have to personally hand over the trophy.

The Indian team had informed the ACC in advance that they would not participate in the presentation ceremony, according to Saikia. The decision was a conscious one, made after considering all relevant factors. The incident has revived questions about whether the ACC chairman needs to be the one presenting the Asia Cup trophy.

The 2022 final serves as a reminder that the trophy presentation was not exclusively reserved for the ACC chief in recent editions. The Indian team's decision to skip the ceremony has sparked debate about the protocol surrounding the trophy presentation.

The Asia Cup is a prestigious tournament in the cricketing world, and the trophy presentation is an important part of the ceremony. The incident has highlighted the need for clarity on the protocol surrounding the trophy presentation.

In the past, the ACC has followed different protocols for the trophy presentation. The 2022 and 2024 incidents suggest that the head of the winning team's cricket board can present the trophy, rather than the ACC chief.

The Indian team's decision to skip the ceremony has been seen as a significant move, given the current dynamics between the BCCI and the ACC. The incident has sparked debate about the role of the ACC chief and the protocol surrounding the trophy presentation.

The Asia Cup 2026 final was a significant event, with India winning the title for a record eighth time. The incident has highlighted the need for clarity on the protocol surrounding the trophy presentation and has sparked debate about the role of the ACC chief.

In conclusion, the Indian team's decision to skip the trophy presentation ceremony has raised questions about the role of the ACC chief and the protocol surrounding the trophy presentation. The 2022 precedent suggests that the ACC president does not necessarily need to be the one to present the trophy, and the incident has sparked debate about the need for clarity on the protocol.