Womens Asia Cup Dubai 2026: Will India Take Trophy from Naqvi?
The Womens Asia Cup Dubai 2026 is set to begin on August 28, with eight teams competing for the continental title in the T20 format. The tournament will be played entirely at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, and one question could become almost as prominent as the cricket itself if India reaches the final: Who will hand the trophy to the Indian team if they win?
The issue has gained attention because Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairman Mohsin Naqvi is also the president of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Pakistan’s interior minister. A similar trophy presentation controversy emerged after India’s men’s team won the Asia Cup in 2025. The Indian side did not receive the trophy from Naqvi at the presentation ceremony, creating an unusual scene after the tournament final.
With India and Pakistan drawn in the same group in the Women’s Asia Cup 2026, the possibility of another politically sensitive presentation ceremony cannot be ruled out if India eventually wins the title.
The ACC has confirmed that the Women’s Asia Cup will run from August 28 to September 13. India and Pakistan will face each other in the group stage on September 5, while the two semi-finals are scheduled for September 10 and 11. The final will be played on September 13.
Womens Asia Cup Dubai 2026: Tournament Details
The 2026 Women’s Asia Cup will be the sixth edition played in the T20 format. Eight teams have been divided into two groups of four, with each side playing the other teams in its group once.
All 15 matches, including the group-stage games, semi-finals and final, will take place under lights at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The matches are scheduled to begin at 6:30 pm local time in Dubai, which is 8 pm IST.
Group A
- India
- Pakistan
- Thailand
- Hong Kong, China
Group B
- Sri Lanka
- Bangladesh
- United Arab Emirates
- Indonesia
The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals. The first semi-final will be played on September 10, followed by the second semi-final on September 11. The championship match is scheduled for September 13.
India vs Pakistan on September 5
The India-Pakistan clash will be the biggest attraction of the group stage. The two rivals are in Group A and will meet on September 5 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
India will begin its campaign against Thailand on August 30 before facing Hong Kong, China on September 3. The Pakistan game will be India’s third and final group-stage match. Pakistan, meanwhile, will open its campaign against Thailand on September 1 and will then face India before completing its group fixtures against Hong Kong, China on September 7.
The group-stage meeting is especially significant because India are entering the competition as the most successful team in Women’s Asia Cup history, while Pakistan are still searching for their first title.
The Trophy Question Could Become a Talking Point
If India qualify for the final and go on to win the Womens Asia Cup Dubai 2026, attention is likely to turn towards the presentation ceremony.
The reason goes back to the men’s Asia Cup in September 2025. After India won that tournament, the Indian team did not accept the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi. Naqvi subsequently took the trophy with him, while the Indian players celebrated their victory without it.
The incident became a major talking point because of the tense political relationship between India and Pakistan. Naqvi holds several influential positions, including ACC chairman and PCB chairman, while also serving as Pakistan’s interior minister.
The trophy issue did not end immediately after the 2025 tournament. It was also discussed around an ICC board meeting later that year. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the trophy matter was not formally included on the meeting’s agenda, but an additional meeting involving him and Naqvi was arranged with senior ICC officials present.
Saikia indicated at the time that discussions between the two sides had begun and that different possibilities could be considered to find a mutually acceptable solution. However, the trophy had still not been handed over to the Indian team at the time of the source report.
What Could Happen If India Wins?
The BCCI has not publicly laid out a specific plan for the Women’s Asia Cup trophy presentation if India reaches the final and wins.
One possible solution would be for Naqvi not to personally present the trophy to the Indian captain. Instead, another ACC official could hand over the trophy to the champions. Such an arrangement could avoid repeating the unusual scenes witnessed during the men’s tournament.
For now, however, there is no confirmed decision about how the ceremony would be handled. The focus remains on the competition itself, with India aiming to add another title to its impressive record.
India Have Won Seven Women’s Asia Cup Titles
India remain the most successful team in the history of the Women’s Asia Cup. The Indian women’s team have won the tournament seven times across its different formats.
India’s earlier titles came in the 50-over format in 2004, 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2008. In the T20 format, India won the title in 2012, 2016 and 2022.
India’s record makes them one of the strongest contenders again in Dubai. The team will be aiming for an eighth overall Women’s Asia Cup championship and a fourth T20 title.
Sri Lanka are the defending T20 champions. They made history in 2024 by defeating India by eight wickets in the final to win their first Women’s T20 Asia Cup title. Bangladesh are the only other team to have won the T20 edition, having claimed the championship once.
India and Pakistan Have Different Targets
For India, the tournament represents an opportunity to reclaim the T20 Asia Cup title after the defeat to Sri Lanka in the 2024 final. The team will also be looking to maintain its strong record in the continental competition.
Pakistan, on the other hand, will be chasing a historic first Women’s Asia Cup title. Their presence in the same group as India means the September 5 match is expected to attract considerable attention, although the result will only be one part of the qualification race.
The tournament’s group-stage format leaves little room for complacency. The top two teams from each group will move into the knockout stage, meaning every match can have an impact on the final standings.
Womens Asia Cup Dubai 2026 Full Schedule
The tournament begins on August 28 with Thailand taking on Hong Kong, China. India’s opening match is against Thailand on August 30, followed by the clash against Hong Kong, China on September 3 and the highly anticipated Pakistan match on September 5.
The complete schedule is:
- August 28: Thailand vs Hong Kong, China
- August 29: Sri Lanka vs UAE
- August 30: India vs Thailand
- August 31: Bangladesh vs Indonesia
- September 1: Pakistan vs Thailand
- September 2: Sri Lanka vs Indonesia
- September 3: India vs Hong Kong, China
- September 4: UAE vs Indonesia
- September 5: India vs Pakistan
- September 6: Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh
- September 7: Pakistan vs Hong Kong, China
- September 8: Bangladesh vs UAE
- September 10: Semi-final 1
- September 11: Semi-final 2
- September 13: Final
All matches will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
India’s Women’s Asia Cup Record
Champions: 7 times
T20 titles: 2012, 2016, 2022
ODI titles: 2004, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2008
The Womens Asia Cup Dubai 2026 therefore carries significance on several fronts. India will be chasing another continental title, Pakistan will be hoping to make history, and Sri Lanka will look to defend the championship they won in 2024.
But if India reaches the final and lifts the trophy on September 13, the cricket may not be the only story of the night. The question of who presents the trophy to the Indian champions could once again become a major talking point, particularly given the unresolved controversy surrounding the men’s Asia Cup presentation.
For now, though, that remains a hypothetical situation. The first task for India is to navigate Group A, beginning with Thailand on August 30 and culminating in the much-anticipated India-Pakistan clash on September 5. The road to the final will determine whether the trophy presentation question even becomes relevant — and whether Dubai witnesses another chapter in the complicated cricketing relationship between India and Pakistan.
