'We meet everyone': Devajit Saikia meets Mohsin Naqvi; India skip trophy ceremony

Asia Cup Trophy Drama Strikes Again – Indian Women Skip Presentation

The Asia Cup trophy controversy has returned for the second year running. After India clinched a record-extending 8th Women's Asia Cup title in Dubai on Sun, beating Sri Lanka by 72 runs (Harmanpreet Kaur's side), the players walked off without collecting the trophy from ACC chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who was present in the Royal Box.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia defended the call, pointing to the changed post-Pahalgam landscape. He said citizens pressured us to sever ties with our neighbour, yet govt policy mandates we play every nation in multi-country events. "But that doesn't mean we follow every condition. Our military conflict is still ongoing. One of the main leaders working against our interests—we can't receive the trophy from him," he told IANS, noting the women showed solidarity with the men's stance from last year.

TV cameras did show Saikia exchanging pleasantries with Naqvi during the match. On that, Saikia said it was normal matchday protocol: "We meet everyone... whoever comes, we greet and talk." He insisted this didn't contradict the trophy stand.

Recall, last year the men (Suryakumar Yadav's side) declined the trophy & medals from the same official, holding an impromptu dais celebration instead. This time, the women didn't even return to the pitch—Saikia presented Nandini Sharma with an in-house best fielder medal, but no trophy ceremony followed. The prize now sits untouched in the ACC office.

Source: Times of India