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STUMP VISION SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 | The Indian Eye 52

Two Asia Cups, Two Victories,

Zero Trophies: When Cricket Became

a Diplomatic Battlefield

Beyond the unusual optics, the episode raises fundamental questions for regional sports administration

crown, reaffirming their regional su-
premacy. Yet the post-match statement
was even more decisive: after captain
Harmanpreet Kaur finished her man-
datory broadcast interview, the entire
squad returned to the dressing room,
bypassing the presentation altogether.
For the players, however, the an-
swer remains much simpler. They did
their job. India’s men won all seven
matches in the 2025 tournament and
ARCHAN MEHTA
secured the country’s ninth men’s Asia
Cup title. India’s women followed by
ricket is designed to resolve its winning all five matches in 2026 and
disputes cleanly on the field.
CBat and ball settle the argu- claiming their eighth women’s Asia
Cup title. The records will show them
ment; the scoreboard provides the as champions. The performances will
final verdict. Yet the 2025 Men’s Asia remain in the scorebooks ; Abhishek’s
Cup and the 2026 Women’s Asia Cup 314 runs and Kuldeep’s 17 wickets for
delivered an unprecedented paradox: the men; Shafali’s 236 runs and Deep-
India swept both tournaments with ti’s 14 wickets for the women. The tro-
flawless records, but walked away phies, however, became trapped in an
without lifting either official trophy. administrative dispute.
Instead of serving as symbols of sport- The numbers tell a remarkable
ing excellence, the silverware became story of complete dominance: 12
collateral damage in an intense diplo- matches played, 12 victories, and two
matic standoff. continental titles. Across men’s and
At the center of the impasse was
Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi. Alongside women’s cricket, India now boasts 17
Asia Cup championships. However,
his roles as Asian Cricket Council neither of the latest two physical cups
(ACC) president and Pakistan Cricket was lifted on the podium.
Board (PCB) chairman, Naqvi served Beyond the unusual optics, the
as Pakistan’s Federal Minister of Inte- episode raises fundamental questions
rior and Narcotics Control. Following Across men’s and women’s cricket, India now boasts 17 Asia Cup championships. However, for regional sports administration.
the April 2025 Pahalgam terror at- When the head of an international
tack and subsequent military friction, neither of the latest two physical cups was lifted on the podium (ANI) governing body holds a senior politi-
bilateral relations between the two cal cabinet post in a nation embroiled
neighbors plunged to historic lows. the final. Along the way, they defeat- medals from Naqvi. in conflict with a member board, insti-
In response, the Board of Control ed Pakistan three times, culminating Twelve months later, the exact tutional neutrality is severely strained.
for Cricket in India (BCCI) adopted in a five-wicket victory in the title de- script played out at the 2026 Women’s India’s stance has established a novel
a pragmatic yet unyielding two-track cider after chasing down 147 with two Asia Cup in Dubai. India’s women precedent in sports diplomacy, prov-
policy: India would honor its multilat- balls to spare. Abhishek Sharma led matched their male counterparts with ing that a team can fulfill sporting ob-
eral sporting commitments, ensuring the tournament charts with 314 runs, a ruthless five-match sweep, dispatch- ligations without lending legitimacy to
matches were played, but would en- Tilak Varma anchored the chase with ing Thailand, Hong Kong, Pakistan, political adversaries. For the athletes,
tirely shun diplomatic and ceremonial an unbeaten 69, and Kuldeep Yadav Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. In the fi- the task was completed without er-
contact with Pakistani state officials. led all bowlers with 17 wickets, includ- nal, a blistering 129-run opening stand ror. The runs, wickets, and titles are
Cricket could proceed, but the cus- ing 4 for 30 in the final. The triumph between Shafali Verma; who notched permanently etched into the record
tomary handshake was off the table. marked India’s record-extending a tournament-record 24-ball fifty and books. The cricket was settled within
The approach faced its first live ninth men’s Asia Cup title. Yet the Smriti Mandhana set up an emphatic
test at the 2025 Men’s Asia Cup in the presentation ceremony laid bare the 72-run victory. Deepti Sharma finished the boundary ropes; the silverware re-
mains trapped by geopolitics.
United Arab Emirates. On the pitch, off-field reality: while players accept- as the leading bowler with 14 wickets,
India produced a clinical, unbeaten ed individual awards from neutral while Sree Charani dismantled Sri Archan Mehta is a writer dedicated to
run, winning all seven matches across officials, the team refused to collect Lanka with 4 for 20. The win delivered telling compelling stories about athletes,
the group stage, the Super Four, and the championship trophy or winner’s India their eighth Women’s Asia Cup teams, and the world of cricket

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