ACC Rejects BCCI Request in Women’s Asia Cup Trophy Row

India informed the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) that the Indian women’s team would not attend the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 trophy presentation ceremony if Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi handed over the cup, according to BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia. Saikia told NDTV that the board communicated its position to the ACC chairman and, after the ACC did not change its stance, India had “no option” but to stay away from the ceremony.

The development sets up a repeat of a “no-show” scenario referenced in the report, with the BCCI stating that it had offered an alternative arrangement for the presentation but that the ACC rejected the proposal. The issue matters because trophy presentations are one of the most visible official moments at a tournament, and any absence by the winning team becomes a major talking point beyond the cricket itself.

What BCCI told ACC and the alternative it proposed

Saikia said the BCCI had clearly communicated to the ACC that India would not be part of the trophy presentation if it was conducted “in the same manner as done in case of the men’s cricket team.” He added that he personally informed the ACC chairman of the position, but the ACC “did not want to change their position,” leaving the BCCI to proceed with a boycott of the ceremony.

In the same remarks, Saikia said the BCCI viewed its decision as a tribute to victims of the Pahalgam attack. “We have honoured all the victims of the Pahalgam attack by not attending the ceremony,” he said.

Saikia also said the BCCI had suggested an alternative presenter. According to him, the board requested that the presentation could have been done by the president or the vice chairman. He specifically mentioned that if ACC deputy chairman Khalid had done the presentation, India would have attended. “If ACC deputy chairman Khalid sahab would have have done the presentation, we would have attended, this was our suggestion as well. But our suggestion was not granted so we had no other options,” Saikia said.

Explaining the BCCI’s reasoning, Saikia said the chairman was also the interior minister of a country with which India does not have a friendly relationship, particularly after the Pahalgam incident, and therefore India would not receive the trophy from him. He also alleged that established traditions were not being followed, saying that when the current ICC chair was in the ACC, it was the normal practice for an office-bearer from the winning team to hand over the trophy, but that this tradition had not been followed since last year.

Saikia added that both trophies—men’s and women’s—would come to India soon. “We can assure very soon we will not only get the Women’s Asia Cup trophy but also the Men’s Asia Cup trophy,” he said.

ACC response and outcome

The report states that the ACC rejected the BCCI’s proposal for an alternative presenter, which led to India’s decision not to attend the trophy presentation ceremony. Saikia’s account frames the outcome as the result of the ACC holding its position despite the BCCI’s request for a different arrangement.

What BCCI said next: T20 focus and Asian Games target

Beyond the immediate trophy presentation dispute, Saikia also spoke about the direction of the Indian women’s team in the shorter format. He said the BCCI is working to build the team in T20 cricket for the ICC T20 World Cup, acknowledging challenges in the women’s T20 format. He also referenced the Indian women’s team winning the 50-over World Cup for the first time in 2025.

Saikia further said the BCCI is bullish about its ambitions at the Asian Games 2026. “We are only aiming for the gold medal for both men and women’s cricket in Asian Games,” he said.

While the on-field result of the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 is not detailed in the report, the off-field controversy around the presentation has become a significant storyline. With the ACC not accepting the BCCI’s suggested alternative, the focus has shifted to the protocol and symbolism of who presents the trophy—an issue the BCCI says it cannot separate from its stated position.