Women’s World Cup Opens Amid Asia Cup Controversy

The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup begins today with a match between India and Sri Lanka, but the spectacle opens under the long shadow of the recent Asia Cup final’s bizarre ending. India’s men’s team won the Asia Cup T20 tournament on September 28, 2025, defeating arch-rivals Pakistan in a thrilling final at the Dubai International Stadium. However, the celebratory mood quickly soured when the Indian team, led by Suryakumar Yadav, declined to accept the trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief and Pakistan’s Interior Minister.

Jay Shah’s World Cup Message

The controversy, which saw Naqvi reportedly walk off with the physical trophy, denying the champion team the customary presentation, remains a hot topic. Netizens are still discussing the unprecedented scenes where the Indian players were forced to celebrate with an ‘imaginary’ trophy, later posting pictures with a trophy emoji. Amid this tension, Jay Shah, the ICC chairman, sent his best wishes for the Women’s World Cup. In an X post, he said: “The growth of women’s cricket is extremely important to the @ICC and this edition of the ICC Women’s @cricketworldcup played across India and Sri Lanka promises to be the biggest and best yet. Good luck to everyone involved. #CWC25.”

Political Tensions Overshadow Sport

Shah’s message led to a flurry of reactions, with fans congratulating the women’s team but also expressing concern that the political friction, which led to the Asia Cup incident, might overshadow the World Cup. The Indian team’s refusal to accept the trophy stemmed from Naqvi’s perceived anti-India political stance and previous provocative remarks. Meanwhile, the political sphere remains charged, with NCP working president Praful Patel confirming that the ruling Mahayuti alliance will contest Lok Sabha and Assembly polls together, but local body polls remain a matter for local leadership. As the Women’s World Cup progresses, all eyes will be on the players to deliver a performance that refocuses attention squarely on the sport, hopefully leaving the trophy controversy firmly in the past.