Indian women’s cricket team and Mohsin Naqvi
The Asia Cup trophies won by India’s men’s and women’s teams remain in Dubai, but BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has assured that both pieces of silverware will eventually make their way to the board’s headquarters in Mumbai. Harmanpreet Kaur ‘s side did not appear at the presentation ceremony with Naqvi on the dais, while a similar situation had unfolded after India’s men’s team won the Asia Cup last year.
Saikia had already made the BCCI’s position clear a day after the women’s final, describing the decision not to accept the trophy from Naqvi as a “firm institutional decision”. Given the circumstances and the sentiments prevailing in the country, the BCCI felt that it would not be appropriate for the team to receive the trophy in the proposed manner,” Saikia told news agency PTI. “This was a firm institutional decision, reflective of the position we have maintained, and was not directed at the players, the tournament or the sport,” he added.
The men’s and women’s teams had both declined to receive the Asia Cup trophy from Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi, leaving the silverware at the ACC headquarters in Dubai. The latest development follows India’s women’s team refusing to attend the trophy presentation after beating Sri Lanka in the Women’s T20 Asia Cup final last week. The women’s team instead conducted its own medal presentation after the final, with BCCI secretary Saikia and vice-president Rajeev Shukla presenting Nandni Sharma with the fielding medal. The official ceremony later saw Naqvi present the runners-up cheque to Sri Lanka. “Our position had been communicated to the ACC in advance that the Indian team would not participate in the trophy presentation under the circumstances.
Saikia confirmed the development after the BCCI’s 95th Annual General Meeting in Mumbai on Friday, although he stopped short of specifying when the trophies would arrive.