Former India cricketer Madan Lal has spoken out after India's women's team did not collect the Women's Asia Cup trophy from Asian Cricket Council chairman Mohsin Naqvi. The team had just beaten Sri Lanka by 72 runs in Dubai to win a record eighth Women's Asia Cup title. Instead of stepping up for the presentation, the Indian players stayed away.
Madan Lal, a member of India's 1983 World Cup-winning squad, reacted to the episode through a post on X. He called it the "same old story" and expressed his frustration with the repeated off-field disputes that keep affecting India-Pakistan cricket ties.
Why India Skipped the Asia Cup Trophy Ceremony
The trophy presentation became a controversy because the Indian players did not take the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, who is the Asian Cricket Council chairman. The team had won the final comfortably, but the moment of collecting the trophy turned into a political flashpoint instead of a celebration.
Madan Lal's reaction was not just about the ceremony itself. He went further and questioned whether India should continue playing Pakistan at all, given how often these disputes keep coming back. His post on X made it clear that he sees this as a pattern rather than a one-off incident.
Madan Lal's 'Same Old Story' Comment
The former cricketer did not hold back. He described the situation as the "same old story" — a phrase that captures how familiar these controversies have become in India-Pakistan cricket.
"Same old story." — Madan Lal, via his post on X
His frustration points to a bigger question: if off-field issues keep overshadowing the game, is it worth continuing these fixtures? Madan Lal seems to think the debate needs to be had openly.
- India won the Women's Asia Cup final by 72 runs against Sri Lanka in Dubai
- It was India's record eighth Women's Asia Cup title
- The Indian players did not collect the trophy from ACC chairman Mohsin Naqvi
- Madan Lal, a 1983 World Cup winner, reacted strongly on X
- He questioned whether India should keep playing Pakistan amid repeated disputes
Our Take: The Trophy Snub Raises Hard Questions
In our view, Madan Lal is saying what many fans have been thinking for years. India's women's team won a major title — a record eighth Asia Cup — and yet the biggest talking point became who handed over the trophy. That is not a good look for the sport.
To put it plainly, cricket between India and Pakistan has always carried more than just sporting weight. But when players feel they cannot even accept a trophy from an official, it shows how deep the off-field tensions run. Madan Lal's question — should India keep playing Pakistan — is uncomfortable, but it is fair to ask.
What readers should take away is this: the BCCI's decision to skip the ceremony was not a small gesture. It sent a message. And when a World Cup winner like Madan Lal calls it out publicly, it signals that even former players are running out of patience with these repeated controversies.
The women's team deserved a clean celebration. Instead, the trophy ceremony became another chapter in a long-running dispute. That is the real loss here.
