India’s women’s cricket team secured their eighth Women’s T20 Asia Cup title on Sunday after delivering a comprehensive 72-run victory against defending champions Sri Lanka at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. However, the post-match victory was overshadowed when the Indian squad skipped the official trophy presentation.
After opting to bat first, India set a formidable total of 183/5. Openers Shafali Verma (68 off 39) and Smriti Mandhana (59 off 39) anchored the innings with a blistering 129-run opening partnership. Sri Lanka’s chase faltered early under relentless pressure from India’s spin attack, with Shree Charani taking 4/20 and Deepti Sharma picking up 3/19 to bowl Sri Lanka out for 111 off the final delivery.
Trophy Ceremony Standoff
Despite the decisive win, Harmanpreet Kaur’s team did not walk onto the dais to receive the winner’s trophy or gold medals. The presentation was presided over by Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board and Pakistan’s Interior Minister.
Naqvi handed the runners-up cheque to Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu, but the ceremony concluded abruptly after the Indian side declined to participate.
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that skipping the presentation was an institutional decision made in solidarity with the stance taken by the Indian men’s team at the 2025 Asia Cup, citing ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Speaking after the match, India head coach Amol Muzumdar backed the board’s decision. “The stand has been taken by the BCCI, and we stand by it,” Muzumdar stated. “For us, the tournament is officially over. We are the champions, and that’s good enough for us.”