BCCI Defends India’s Decision to Snub Mohsin Naqvi for Trophy

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia clarified that accepting the silverware from Naqvi, who also chairs the Pakistan Cricket Board, was out of the question due to ongoing geopolitical tensions. Diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan deteriorated sharply following the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025 and the subsequent security operations launched by New Delhi. While multi-nation tournaments still compel the two sides to meet on the pitch, post-match handshakes have vanished, and a strict stance on official interactions has taken hold.

The women’s squad mirrored the exact protest staged by the Indian men’s team last year. On Sunday, after trouncing Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final, the victorious players refused to collect the trophy from Naqvi. They were, however, prepared to receive it from ACC vice-president Khalid Al Zarooni, though Naqvi did not step aside.

Saikia noted that public sentiment in India strongly favours cutting sporting ties with their neighbours, yet the board must abide by central government directives requiring participation in official continental fixtures. Participating in a match, he stressed, does not equate to conceding ground or endorsing leadership perceived as acting against national interests.

Addressing brief moments of proximity in the royal box during the match alongside BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla, Saikia dismissed the significance of sharing a venue, describing it as a matter of routine protocol rather than cordial diplomacy. He expressed zero regret over the unresolved impasse, emphasizing that the primary objective was purely sporting dominance on the grass.

With the continental crown secured through an unbeaten campaign, the squad now pivots towards the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. The women’s Twenty20 tournament commences on 17 September, with India scheduled to face hosts Japan in the quarter-finals the following day.