India Women’s coach says trophy snub was a Board decision

The controversy surrounding the Women’s Asia Cup trophy has taken another turn after India’s head coach said the team’s decision not to receive the trophy was made by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Speaking to reporters after India’s title triumph, the Indian women’s team coach was asked by Geo News when the players would finally receive the Asia Cup trophy.

The coach appeared unaware of any plans regarding the trophy, saying he had no information about when it would be handed over to the team.

However, when questioned about why the players had refused to collect the trophy, the coach offered a clearer explanation. He said the decision had come from the Indian cricket board and that the women’s team had simply followed the instructions.

“The board made the decision and the team followed it,” the coach said, according to the report.

The development has added a fresh layer to an ongoing trophy controversy involving Indian cricket. After winning the Women’s Asia Cup, India’s women players reportedly followed the precedent set by the men’s team by declining to receive the trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi.

The issue has attracted considerable attention because the trophy presentation is traditionally one of the most symbolic moments of a tournament final, allowing the winning team to celebrate its achievement with the official trophy.

The ACC, meanwhile, has maintained that the tournament-winning team will receive the trophy from its president.

The controversy comes after India’s successful campaign in the Women’s Asia Cup, with the team adding another major title to its record. But instead of the celebrations focusing solely on the players’ performance, the trophy presentation has become a major talking point.

With the Indian coach now saying the decision originated with the BCCI, questions remain over when and how the Asia Cup trophy will eventually be presented to the champions.