India head coach Amol Muzumdar has addressed the controversy that followed India’s victory in the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 final, saying the team stands firmly behind the decision taken by the BCCI regarding the trophy presentation.
Harmanpreet Kaur and her team defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs on Sunday to secure a record eighth Asia Cup title. However, the post-match presentation attracted attention after the Indian players did not collect the trophy from ACC chief Mohsin Naqvi in Dubai.
Naqvi is also Pakistan’s Interior Minister. The development was reminiscent of last year’s men’s Asia Cup final, when Suryakumar Yadav-led India had similarly declined to receive the trophy from Naqvi after beating Pakistan.
Muzumdar said the decision was not made by the team and that the BCCI’s stand had its full support.
“That stand has been taken by the BCCI and we stand by it. For us, this tournament is over. We are the champions,” the India coach said at the post-match press conference.
He also suggested that the team is no longer focusing on the controversy and has already turned its attention towards the next challenge.
“It was on the big board that India ‘Champions of Asia Cup 2026’. This tournament is officially over for us. Now, we look forward to the Asian Games,” Muzumdar added.
Naqvi subsequently left the stadium after presenting the award to Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu. Unlike last year, he moved away without taking the trophy with him.
The incident comes at a time when diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan remain strained following the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor.
