Naqvi did not object to India refusing Womens Asia Cup title from him, says Shukla

BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla on Monday said India’s decision not to accept the Women’s Asia Cup trophy from Asian Cricket Council chairman Mohsin Naqvi was a collective decision by the Board, adding that the Pakistan administrator did not object to it.

India defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final in Dubai on Sunday but did not accept the trophy from Naqvi, continuing a stance adopted by the men’s team during last year’s Asia Cup.

Speaking to reporters after arriving at the Indira Gandhi International Airport with the Indian team, Shukla said the BCCI had discussed the matter internally before deciding that the players would not receive the trophy from Naqvi.

“We discussed the matter among ourselves and decided that we would not accept it (trophy) from him. It was our collective decision. He (Naqvi) also did not raise any objection to it,” Shukla said, as quoted by PTI.

“We informed our team accordingly, and he presented it to whoever he had to and then left,” he added.

BCCI STANCE

Shukla’s comments came a day after BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia explained the thinking behind the decision.

Saikia earlier told India Today, that the decision was taken with the ‘interest of our country’ and the sentiments of people in mind, while stressing that India’s position was specifically about receiving the trophy from individuals who were not acceptable to the team at this stage.

“What happened today after the final is nothing else but a normal thing, keeping in mind the interest of our country and the respect of all our people,” Saikia said after the final.

“Our only concern is that we cannot receive a trophy from some persons who are not acceptable to us at this stage,” he added.

Saikia also linked the decision to the Indian men’s team’s unresolved Asia Cup trophy issue. India had won the men’s tournament in 2025 but the trophy has not yet reached the country.

“We are also keeping in mind the respect and solidarity with our men’s Asia Cup team. If you look at our men’s team, which won the Asia Cup about one year ago, the trophy is yet to come to our land,” Saikia said.

“If that is the position, then how can we violate our stand and do something that is in conflict with our original position? The situation has not changed for the last one and a half years, and we hope that good sense will prevail and both trophies will be given to India at the earliest possible time,” he added.

ROUTINE INTERACTION

Images had surfaced of Saikia speaking to Naqvi during Sunday’s final, but Shukla described the interaction as routine.

“What Saikia ji said is absolutely correct. When you are at a match, everyone is present there and interacts in a professional capacity. Therefore, I do not think there should be so much criticism over that,” Shukla said.

ASIAN GAMES NEXT

Shukla also congratulated the Indian women’s team on winning the Asia Cup and expressed confidence in its chances at the upcoming Asian Games in Japan.

“We became Asia Cup champions. Our women have once again made us proud and we will continue to win in the future,” he said.

“The team is now heading to Japan and we are fully confident that we will secure a victory there as well,” Shukla added.

– Ends