'The trophy will be with us very soon' - BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia on Asia Cup trophy row

India's women's team defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the Women's Asia Cup 2026 final on Sunday in Dubai to claim the tournament for the eighth time. Shafali Verma scored 68 off 39 balls and was named Player of the Match, while she and Smriti Mandhana added 129 runs for the opening partnership as India posted 183 for 5 in 20 overs.

However, the Indian team led by Harmanpreet Kaur declined to receive the trophy during the post-match presentation ceremony. The players stayed away from the stage after winning the final, with Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu collecting the runners-up cheque from ACC president and PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi instead. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia has expressed hope that both Asia Cup trophies will be handed over to the Indian teams soon.

"If someone is adamant not to solve the problem, then it is their call, not our call. We can only suggest, but we cannot implement it; we cannot enforce it. So that is not our role, but I can assure you....whole country knows that BCCI is going to get back both trophies very soon," Saikia said to Times Now.

Why India declined the trophy presentation

The BCCI had pre-emptively informed the Asian Cricket Council that the Indian team would not accept the Women's Asia Cup trophy from Naqvi. Saikia noted that the Indian delegation would have gladly participated in the presentation ceremony if ACC Deputy Chairman Khalid Sahib had presented the trophy instead. The BCCI's stance was firm following the Pahalgam incident, given that the ACC Chairman also serves as the Interior Minister of a country that does not share friendly relations with India.

By boycotting the presentation ceremony, the BCCI and the team paid tribute to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. Saikia stressed that winning the tournament was more important than the ceremony itself, emphasising that the controversy did not originate from the Indian side.

"I cannot give you a timeline but I'm saying you that the trophy will be with us very soon. Both the trophies, not only yesterday's trophy. The other trophy, which was not with us for more than one year, both the trophies will come to the cupboards of BCCI headquarters in Bombay very soon and the thing is very clear that we are the champions," Saikia said.

A similar episode had occurred during the 2025 Asia Cup involving the Indian men's team, when the players also declined to receive the trophy from Naqvi. The trophy from that tournament was subsequently kept at the ACC office in Dubai.