Former Pakistan international
The Indian side’s absence from the podium was a deliberate stance against receiving the silverware from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman
Yousuf labels Indian stance as arrogant
Taking to social media platform X, Yousuf expressed his disapproval of the Indian team's actions, suggesting that the refusal to accept the award from Naqvi demonstrated a lack of humility. He stated that while a team may secure a victory, a nation without humility remains a loser, describing the situation as an expression of arrogance rather than national pride.
This development mirrors a similar occurrence from the previous year’s men's Asia Cup, where the Indian team also declined to accept the trophy from Naqvi. The ongoing tension stems from broader geopolitical friction, with the
BCCI confirms prior communication
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia clarified that the board’s stance had been made clear to Naqvi well in advance of the match. Despite this notification, the ACC president attended the ceremony, where he presented the runners-up cheque to Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu. BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla was also in attendance at the venue.
With the Indian squad remaining in the dressing room throughout the proceedings, the event concluded after the presentation of the runners-up medals. The victory marks a significant sporting achievement for the Indian women's team, extending their record in the tournament, though the trophy ceremony itself remained overshadowed by the diplomatic standoff between the board and the ACC leadership.
