The 2026 Women's Asia Cup in Dubai could set the stage for another off-field showdown between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi. There are questions about the official trophy presentation if India win the continental title on September 13.
The upcoming tournament, featuring eight teams, will begin on Friday, August 28, at the Dubai International Cricket. Seven-time champions India Women will enter as strong contenders to reclaim the title, while defending champions Sri Lanka and arch-rivals Pakistan could provide tough competition.
BCCI and Mohsin Naqvi Face Another Trophy Presentation Issue
The 2026 Women’s Asia Cup could revive the trophy presentation dispute between the BCCI and Mohsin Naqvi. Last year, India refused to accept the men’s Asia Cup trophy from Naqvi after beating Pakistan in the final in Dubai.
The Suryakumar Yadav-led side also declined handshakes with the Pakistani players and skipped the post-match presentation ceremony. Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman and the country’s Interior Minister, eventually left the venue with the trophy.
More than a year later, the trophy has still not been handed over to India. Naqvi later said the Indian team could collect it from his ACC office in Dubai. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia met Naqvi during an ICC meeting and later said that the “ice had been broken”, but the trophy dispute remains unresolved.
As per PTI, the BCCI has not revealed its position on a possible presentation involving Mohsin Naqvi if India win the Women’s Asia Cup. The issue will only come into focus if Harmanpreet Kaur’s team reaches the final and lifts the trophy.
India and Pakistan Set for September 5 Asia Cup Clash
India and Pakistan have been placed in Group A alongside Thailand and Hong Kong. The arch-rivals will face each other on September 5 in one of the tournament’s biggest matches.
Notably, the Women’s Asia Cup will not offer the same possibility of multiple group-stage meetings as last year’s men’s tournament. India and Pakistan can meet again only in the final if both teams progress through the knockout stage.
Team India will enter the competition as seven-time champions and have reached the final in all nine previous editions. Pakistan, meanwhile, are still searching for their first Women’s Asia Cup title after finishing runners-up in 2012 and 2016.
Pakistan have a realistic chance of reaching the semi-finals from Group A, with Thailand and Hong Kong also in the group. However, Sri Lanka or Bangladesh could provide a tougher challenge in the knockout stage if Pakistan advance.
ACC Could Avoid Repeat Controversy With Neutral Official
The ACC could avoid another presentation dispute by appointing a different official to hand over the trophy if India win the tournament. A neutral ACC representative could conduct the ceremony and remove the immediate tension surrounding Mohsin Naqvi's presence on the presentation dais.
However, Mohsin Naqvi remained firm during last year’s dispute despite India making its position clear before the men’s final. The PCB chairman insisted that he was willing to present the trophy and later offered the Indian team the option of collecting it from his office in Dubai.
The BCCI has maintained that there will be no exchange of pleasantries between the Indian and Pakistani teams. For now, the focus remains on the tournament, but the presentation could become a major talking point if India win the title on September 13.
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