No Trophy Only Heels on Head: Yousuf Defends Mohsin Naqvi
Indiadailyupdate.com – No trophy only heels on head became the phrase at the centre of a fresh Asia Cup controversy after former Pakistan batter Mohammad Yousuf defended Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi and criticised India’s refusal to collect the Women’s T20 Asia Cup trophy from him.
India beat Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final to secure a record-extending eighth Women’s Asia Cup title. However, the champions did not come out for the presentation ceremony, meaning the trophy was not handed over publicly after their decisive victory.
Why India Did Not Collect the Trophy
India’s decision was linked to Naqvi’s role in the ceremony. Naqvi is the ACC president as well as chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, and the Harmanpreet Kaur-led team did not wish to receive the trophy from him.
The Indian players stayed in the dressing room as the post-match presentation was delayed. India women’s head coach Amol Muzumdar later said the team had followed the position taken by the BCCI.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said Naqvi had been informed of India’s stance before the ceremony. Saikia and BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla were both present at the final, underlining that the issue concerned the trophy presentation rather than India’s participation in the tournament.
Mohammad Yousuf Calls India Arrogant
Yousuf responded on social media on Tuesday, backing Naqvi’s handling of the matter. He argued that sporting success should be accompanied by humility and described India’s decision in strongly critical terms.
“When national pride turns into arrogance, victory brings no reward. A team may win, but a nation without humility remains a loser! No trophy, only heels on heads. #MohsinNaqvi”
The former Pakistan batter’s remarks added another layer to the dispute, shifting attention from India’s dominant on-field performance to the unusual conclusion of the final.
Delayed Asia Cup Presentation Ceremony
The presentation was reportedly delayed by around 45 to 50 minutes. When it eventually began, Sri Lanka were the only finalists to walk onto the field for the ceremony.
Sri Lanka’s players received their runners-up medals, while Naqvi presented the runners-up cheque to captain Chamari Athapaththu. The ceremony ended after Athapaththu completed her broadcaster interview, with India absent from the public trophy handover.
Naqvi had largely remained out of view during the final, although television cameras showed him in the VIP enclosure during the closing over. His presence became a key issue because India had already made its position on accepting the trophy clear.
Echoes of the Men’s Asia Cup Dispute
The latest episode recalled a similar dispute during the previous year’s men’s Asia Cup. India’s men also declined to accept the trophy from Naqvi following the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor.
That competition unfolded amid heightened tension between India and Pakistan. Naqvi’s anti-India social-media posts further intensified the atmosphere, and the trophy presentation became part of the wider political friction surrounding the tournament.
The women’s final showed again how quickly cricket administration and regional politics can overlap. Even though India faced Sri Lanka in the final, the identity of the official due to present the trophy shaped the ending of the event.
India’s Win Remains the Main Cricket Result
Despite the controversy, India’s achievement on the field remains clear. The team defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs and added another Women’s Asia Cup title to its record.
The absence of a conventional trophy lift did not change the result, but it created an uncommon scene after a major international final. India had the title, while Sri Lanka accepted the runners-up honours during the ceremony.
Yousuf’s “No trophy only heels on head” comment ensured the disagreement remained part of the post-match discussion. For India, however, the tournament ended with another Asia Cup triumph despite the lack of a public trophy presentation.
FAQ
Why did India not collect the Women’s Asia Cup trophy?
India did not collect the trophy because the team did not want to receive it from ACC president Mohsin Naqvi, who is also chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
Who won the Women’s T20 Asia Cup final?
India won the final by 72 runs against Sri Lanka, claiming a record-extending eighth Women’s Asia Cup title.
What did Mohammad Yousuf say about Mohsin Naqvi?
Mohammad Yousuf defended Naqvi and accused India of arrogance, using the phrase “No trophy only heels on head” in his social-media message.
