The Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026 has already produced plenty of cricketing drama, but another storyline is building away from the pitch.
If India reach the final in Dubai on September 13 and lift the trophy, Mohsin Naqvi could be the man presenting the silverware to the champions. According to a report by Geo Super, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president is expected to attend the closing ceremony and present the Women’s Asia Cup trophy to the winning team.
That possibility has immediately brought back memories of last year’s men’s Asia Cup final, when India’s refusal to accept the trophy from Naqvi created one of the most unusual presentation ceremonies in recent cricket history.
This time, however, the situation involves the Indian women’s team—and that makes the question even more intriguing.
What happens if Harmanpreet Kaur’s team wins?
Why Mohsin Naqvi’s Role Has Become a Talking Point
Naqvi wears several important hats in the cricketing world. He is the president of the Asian Cricket Council and also the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
His possible role in the Women’s Asia Cup final therefore carries more significance than a routine trophy presentation.
According to Geo Super, Naqvi is expected to travel to Dubai for the September 13 closing ceremony and serve as the chief guest. The report says he would present the Women’s T20 Asia Cup trophy to the eventual champions.
India, meanwhile, have emerged as one of the tournament’s strongest sides.
After three straight victories, the Indian women’s team have already secured their place in the semi-finals. Their dominant performances have made them one of the leading contenders for the title.
And that is where the trophy question suddenly becomes interesting.
If India fail to reach the final, there is obviously no issue.
If they reach the final and lose, again, the question disappears.
But if India win?
That’s when the spotlight will shift from the cricket to the presentation stage.
Last Year’s Asia Cup Final Still Fresh in Memory
The reason this is attracting so much attention is what happened during the men’s T20 Asia Cup final in 2025.
India defeated Pakistan by five wickets in the Dubai final to win the title. But the celebrations were overshadowed by an extraordinary trophy presentation.
The Indian team did not accept the winners’ trophy from Naqvi, who was serving as ACC president as well as PCB chairman and Pakistan’s interior minister.
The presentation ceremony was delayed, and the Indian players did not collect the team trophy on stage. Individual awards were accepted, but the main silverware remained absent from India’s celebrations.
The incident quickly became one of the biggest talking points of the tournament.
Instead of the traditional photograph of the captain holding the trophy, India celebrated without the actual silverware.
It was an image that cricket fans were unlikely to forget.
The Trophy Drama Didn’t End That Night
The 2025 episode continued even after the final.
Reports subsequently said the Asia Cup trophy remained at the ACC’s Dubai headquarters following the presentation dispute.
There was also considerable debate around whether and how the trophy would eventually be handed over to the Indian team.
That background is precisely why the prospect of Naqvi presenting another Asia Cup trophy to an Indian side is attracting attention.
It is not simply about a trophy.
It is about whether last year’s extraordinary scene could somehow repeat itself.
India Women’s Team Have Bigger Things to Worry About First
Before anyone starts planning the trophy ceremony, there is still plenty of cricket to be played.
India must first navigate the knockout stage successfully.
The team has looked formidable during the tournament, and their recent results have strengthened their credentials as title favourites.
India’s win over Hong Kong was particularly emphatic. Smriti Mandhana smashed a record-breaking 124 from 64 balls as India posted 193/5 before bowling Hong Kong out for just 56, securing a massive 137-run victory and a semi-final place.
India then produced another commanding performance against Pakistan, winning by seven wickets after Pakistan were dismissed for just 55.
That kind of form explains why the trophy presentation question is being discussed before the final has even arrived.
The Indian team still has to earn its place in the title match.
Will Harmanpreet Kaur Accept the Trophy?
This is the question fans are already asking, but there is currently no official indication from the Indian women’s team or the BCCI that they would refuse the trophy.
That is an important distinction.
The fact that last year’s men’s team declined the trophy from Naqvi does not automatically mean the women’s team will follow exactly the same path.
Different team, different players, different circumstances.
Until Harmanpreet Kaur, the BCCI or another official representative says otherwise, any prediction about a refusal remains speculation.
For now, the confirmed storyline is simply that Naqvi is expected to be present and, according to the Geo Super report, is set to present the trophy to the winners.
Could the 2025 Scene Repeat Itself?
That’s the million-dollar question.
Imagine India win the final.
Harmanpreet Kaur and her teammates are standing on the presentation stage. The crowd is waiting for the traditional trophy lift. Naqvi is there as the ACC chief.
Suddenly, a routine cricket ceremony becomes the most-watched few minutes of the tournament.
Will the captain accept the trophy?
Will an ACC official present it instead?
Will there be a different arrangement altogether?
At this stage, nobody outside the relevant officials can say with certainty.
And that uncertainty is exactly why the story has caught fire.
Cricket Should Ideally Take Centre Stage
There is also another side to this discussion.
The Indian women’s team has put together a strong campaign on the field, and the focus should ultimately remain on their cricket.
Mandhana’s explosive batting, Harmanpreet’s leadership and India’s impressive bowling performances are the real reasons the team has become one of the tournament favourites.
The players will have little interest in getting dragged into a presentation controversy before they have even reached the final.
For them, the immediate job is straightforward: win the semi-final, reach the final and then finish the tournament as champions.
Everything else can wait.
What Happens If India Win?
If India reach the September 13 final and win the Women’s Asia Cup, the trophy presentation will undoubtedly attract enormous attention.
Naqvi is expected to be present as ACC president, and current reports indicate that he would present the trophy to the champions.
But whether India accept it directly from him—or whether the ACC arranges the ceremony differently—remains unknown.
There has been no official announcement confirming that the Indian women’s team would refuse the trophy.
So, for now, it is best viewed as a developing storyline rather than a confirmed controversy.
The Bottom Line
The Women’s Asia Cup 2026 could be heading toward a fascinating finish both on and off the field.
India have already secured their semi-final spot and look like genuine title contenders. If Harmanpreet Kaur’s side reaches the final and wins, attention will inevitably turn toward the presentation ceremony.
Mohsin Naqvi is expected to attend the Dubai final as ACC president and, according to reports, present the trophy to the winners.
That brings back memories of the 2025 men’s Asia Cup, when India’s refusal to accept the trophy from Naqvi produced an extraordinary end to the tournament.
But history does not guarantee a repeat.
For now, India have a trophy to win before they have a trophy ceremony to worry about. And if the Women in Blue do lift the title on September 13, the presentation stage in Dubai could become almost as interesting as the final itself.
