The past comes full circle and the familiar script repeats itself. Almost 12 months after Suryakumar Yadav’s victorious Indian team came home without the Asia Cup Trophy, Harmanpreet Kaur’s triumphant Indian side has had to undergo the same experience — returning home empty – despite winning the Asia Cup women’s championship fair and square.

They beat Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final, only to be denied the silverware. Mohsin Naqvi, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, who is currently heading the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), showed up at the Dubai International Stadium minutes before the last ball was bowled and insisted on presenting the winners’ trophy himself.

It was not acceptable to them, just as it was not acceptable to the Indian men’s team on September 28 last year. The brief and delayed presentation ceremony eventually concluded without the winners receiving their prize. There were behind-the-scenes discussions over the post-match formalities, with the Indian side taking a position that ACC vice-president Khalid Al Zarooni could present the trophy - something that BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia also told Aaj Tak. But evidently, Naqvi did not relent.

Naqvi stood on the podium and handed the runners-up cheque to the Sri Lankan team. Al Zarooni, Sri Lanka Cricket Transformation Committee head Eran Wickramaratne, Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) secretary general Mubashir Usmani and a female representative of DP World, the title sponsor of the Asia Cup, were among those on the podium.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and vice-president Rajeev Shukla were present at the ground but they did not go up on the dais or share the stage with Naqvi. They spoke to the Indian contingent on the ground.

“It was the same old story. Naqvi wanted to present the trophy, but the Indian team said no. So the compromise was to go ahead with the ceremony without the presentation of the winners’ trophy,” said a source in the know. “So there was neither a trophy nor medals for the Indian players.”

Amol Muzumdar, the head coach of the Indian team, was later asked about the episode. “That stand has been taken by the BCCI, and we stand by it. For us, this tournament is over. We are the champions. That’s good enough. It was on the big board that India are champions of the Asia Cup 2026. This tournament is officially over for us. We are happy that we have turned out to be champions. Now, we look forward to the Asian Games,” he said.

He went on to repeat the comments to another question. “The stand has been taken by the BCCI, and we are united and standing by it. Absolutely. For us, this tournament is officially over. The fact that we are champions, we are really glad, and I am really proud of every single person in this unit, including the support staff and the players, needless to say. We are looking forward to the Asian Games now. This is officially over.”

The men’s Asia Cup took place a few months after the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent Operation Sindoor last year. The atmosphere was extremely serious, sensitive and charged, and it resulted in the impasse over the trophy. One year on, the situation has not changed, with the BCCI sticking to its uncompromising stance.