Cricket rarely produces sequels this exact. With the chief guest for the Women's Asia Cup final on September 13, the day Pakistan and India are set to meet, confirmed as Mohsin Naqvi, the tournament seems poised to produce a sequel to the confrontation that occurred nearly a year ago.
The stage is set, though the teams are different, and the issue is the same. If India make it to the final and win, they might well be none too pleased to accept silverware from the man who is Pakistan's law minister.
India vs Pakistan: Women's Asia Cup Final Could Recreate Last Year's Asia Cup Standoff
The memories of last year's Men's Asia Cup final in Dubai are still fresh in the minds of many. India had beaten Pakistan in the final, only for the celebrations to be overshadowed by an unprecedented standoff over the trophy. Suryakumar Yadav's men apparently made it clear to Naqvi, the President of the Asian Cricket Council, that they would refuse to let him present the trophy to them. The ACC chief, who was also present at the ground, had to wait for more than an hour before the players agreed to take the trophy from him.
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India eventually left the ground without the trophy, with reports suggesting that the coveted hardware was still present in the ACC office in Dubai. Suryakumar's infamous Rohit Sharma-inspired celebration, however, would live on as one of the most memorable moments of a final that saw India beat Pakistan but refuse to accept the customary post-match ritual.
The context in which the Women's Asia Cup final will take place is, if anything, even more intriguing. The fraught India-Pakistan relations have shown no sign of improvement since the Pahalgam terror attack, and the cricket rivalry is no different. India's diplomatic and sporting ties with Pakistan have been tested at multiple junctures in recent times, with reports suggesting that the Indian captain refused to shake hands with her Pakistani counterpart during the toss.
With Naqvi's controversial conduct and social media posts during the Men's Asia Cup, which saw India boycott the trophy presentation ceremony, already fueling speculation, his presence at the Women's Asia Cup final is set to dominate the discourse surrounding the tournament.
India's Comprehensive Dominance Means the Trophy Presentation Has Become the Real Final
Harmanpreet Kaur's team have more reasons than most to believe they are the best women's cricket team in Asia. Their comfortable wins against Thailand, Hong Kong and Pakistan in the group stage are a testament to that belief. India's seven-wicket win against Pakistan was their most emphatic performance of the tournament. The hosts bowled the visitors out for a mere 55, a score that marks Pakistan's lowest ever T20I total.
India have also had the benefit of Smriti Mandhana's brilliant form. The opener has been in stunning touch and has recently eclipsed Mithali Raj to register the highest run-scorer in women's international cricket. India have been the best team throughout the tournament and as such, they enter the final as clear favourites.
That is why the prospect of another India vs Pakistan final is even more fascinating than the men's final. India are not just favorites to win the trophy; they are also the team most likely to win the Women's Asia Cup.
BCCI's Silence on the Issue Makes it Difficult to Tell What They Think
The BCCI's reaction to the situation has been completely silent, and the ambiguity with which they addressed the issue adds to the intrigue of the situation. Declaring their stance before the final, if at all, would have made it the focal point of the final, with the BCCI facing the ire of millions of fans. On the other hand, the board does not want to leave it to the last minute, where an ill-conceived decision can make for equally embarrassing headlines.
Last year's men's Asia Cup final showed how quickly things can unravel when a team refuses to accept a trophy from a particular individual. If India refuses to acknowledge Naqvi's presence this year, there is little doubt that the optics of the entire event will turn out to be as embarrassing as the Men's Asia Cup final last year. However, India's team management has had the luxury of time to think over their options as opposed to making a snap decision during the final itself.
In the end, Naqvi's presence is not the real issue, and neither is his conduct. The bigger story, if India wins the trophy, will be about whether they will accept the trophy from Naqvi's hands.