India’s Women’s Team Snubs Trophy Presentation at Asia Cup Final

In a move reminiscent of last year's controversy, India's women's cricket team declined to accept the Women’s Asia Cup trophy from ACC Chairman Mohsin Naqvi following their decisive 72-run victory over Sri Lanka on Sunday. The trophy presentation at Dubai International Cricket Stadium was marred by delays, as the Indian team’s refusal to participate left the closing ceremony in limbo.

The culmination of the match, which concluded at 9:55 PM UAE time, saw India dominate with a total of 185 runs, thanks to strong performances from Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma. However, the celebration was overshadowed by the lack of participation from the Indian side in the trophy ceremony, leading to a wait of over thirty minutes as Naqvi stood on stage, awaiting the champions. Reports confirmed that the Indian team did not collect their medals or the trophy, while Sri Lanka's Chamari Athapaththu accepted the runners-up cheque without issue.

Head coach Amol Muzumdar stated that the decision to forgo the trophy was a directive from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), emphasizing that the tournament was concluded for them. When questioned about the implications for sportsmanship, he reaffirmed their stance, insisting that their victory was acknowledged on the scoreboard as champions. The coach was cautious about the trophy's fate, leaving questions unanswered.

Source: www.dawn.com