Trophy impasse : Political shadow over cricket grows longer
The Tribune Editorial: The BCCI has described it as a conscious institutional step
Updated At : 07:15 AM Sep 15, 2026 IST
INDIA’s women cricketers won the Asia Cup for a record-extending eighth time on Sunday, but the tournament ended on a bitter note as the Harmanpreet Kaur-led team skipped the presentation ceremony. In a replay of the 2025 men’s Asia Cup, India refused to accept the trophy from Asian Cricket Council chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s Interior Minister. Amid a sharp deterioration in India-Pakistan relations after the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, the decision reflects a political reality that has increasingly entered the sporting arena. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has described it as a conscious institutional step, taken in view of prevailing circumstances and public sentiment.
