The trophy drama from last year’s Men’s Asia Cup could return again, but this time the India women’s national cricket team could be at the centre of it with Mohsin Naqvi.
The question has once again been raised whether India will accept the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 trophy from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the chief of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Interior Minister, if Harmanpreet Kaur’s team wins the final.
India could face another Mohsin Naqvi Trophy drama in Women’s Asia Cup 2026 Final
As reported by Geo Super, Mohsin Naqvi is expected to attend the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 final on September 13 as the chief guest for the closing ceremony. If India reaches the final and wins, the trophy presentation could once again become a major talking point.
If the ACC President is present at the final, he could be asked to present the trophy to the winning team. In that situation, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led India women’s national cricket team will have to decide whether they want to receive the silverware from Naqvi. Earlier, Imran Khan’s sons call Mohsin Naqvi a ‘fool’ after a reported threat to withdraw from the Lord’s Test.
India in red-hot form in Women’s Asia Cup 2026
Indian women are already favourites to win the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 trophy after reaching the semi-finals as the unbeaten side under Harmanpreet Kaur’s captaincy.
They started the eight-team tournament with a win over Thailand and then defeated Hong Kong and Pakistan in the group stage. India recently crushed Pakistan by seven wickets after bowling out Fatima Sana’s team for just 55 in Dubai.
Pakistan will face Hong Kong in their final league on September 7, and they must register a big win to qualify for the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 semifinal.
When India celebrated without the Asia Cup Trophy
Last year, India under the captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav refused to take the Men’s Asia Cup trophy from Mohsin Naqvi after beating Pakistan in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. There was tension between the players throughout the Asia Cup 2025, with Naqvi and other Pakistani officials making anti-India statements on social media.
That happened mainly because the competition was also played after the Pahalgam terror attack, adding more tension to the India-Pakistan clash. After India won the final, the trophy presentation was delayed by more than an hour because of a disagreement over who would present the silverware.
Suryakumar Yadav’s team eventually celebrated on the podium without the trophy. Naqvi had still attended the post-match presentation. India later declined to take the trophy from Pakistan’s Interior Minister, and the trophy remains at the ACC office in Dubai. Amid this, India vs Pakistan bilateral series unlikely, ICC explores tri-series option.
Mushtaq Ahmed raises big concern over PCB’s constant changes
Meanwhile, former Pakistan spinner Mushtaq Ahmed has raised concerns over the PCB’s constant changes. The Mohsin Naqvi-headed PCB recently sent seven players and two coaches back to Pakistan during the England tour.
Mushtaq feels the uncertainty around coaching jobs discourages former players from joining the national team, as repeated changes have created a lack of stability.
Mushtaq Ahmed said on the BBC Stumped Podcast, “I would love to do that for my country, of course. Especially at this time. Obviously, I need only one thing. Sometimes you get scared of working for your own country when the people don’t respect you, and they sack you because of a few emotional decisions here and there. When you see those things, people getting sacked on a tour, you get worried and scared.”