India’s Trophy Snub Sparks Fresh Row: Indian Voices Join Debate as Mohammad Yousuf Backs Naqvi

Xtratime Webdesk: The Women's Asia Cup final may have ended with India lifting the trophy on the field, but the furore around the trophy ceremony is still gathering momentum. The latest name to enter the debate is former Pakistan batter Mohammad Yousuf, who has taken to X (Twitter) and thrown his support behind Asian Cricket Council chief Mohsin Naqvi.

Yousuf's comments come after India's decision not to collect the trophy from Naqvi. It became the biggest talking point after the Women's Asia Cup final, where India defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs in Dubai on Sunday. Yet, the celebrations were followed by an unusual presentation ceremony. The Indian team did not come out to receive the trophy from the Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi, who is also Pakistan's interior minister. The trophy was therefore not handed over to the champions on the night.

India women's head coach Amol Muzumdar made it clear that the players were not treating the incident as an internal dispute. According to Muzumdar, the decision was taken by the BCCI, and the Indian team stood behind it. For the coach, however, the bigger point was what happened on the field. India had won the tournament, and this episode could not change that fact.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia also explained the board's position. He said India had communicated its stance before the final and had suggested alternatives that would have allowed another official to present the trophy. Those alternatives, according to Saikia, were not accepted.

Indian women's captain Harmanpreet Kaur also said that the focus should be on the team's performance and there should be no major public comment on the dispute. Former Indian pacer Madan Lal questioned why India played Pakistan, in the first place, if there is such an issue.

Across the border, former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi criticised the Indian women’s team after it refused to receive the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi following the final. Afridi accused the Indian team of repeatedly disrespecting Pakistan and its officials and said that the boycott of the trophy-presentation ceremony should be seen as a part of a broader pattern. Afridi’s remarks echo a lot of others in his country who share the same sentiment, including former Pakistani batter Mohammad Yousuf who also defended Naqvi and criticised India’s stance.

The former Pakistan batter's post also comes at a time when several former cricketers and players have been expressing their views on the increasingly heated India-Pakistan cricket relationship. For the Indian team, the message from the dressing room has remained straightforward: the trophy was won on the field. Yousuf’s remarks ensure the controversy continues beyond the final, adding another chapter to the India-Pakistan cricket rivalry.