India Wins Women's T20 Asia Cup by 72 Runs, Refuses ACC Chief Trophy

India defeated defending champions Sri Lanka by 72 runs to win the Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Smriti Mandhana (59) and Shafali Verma (68) led India’s batting, while bowlers Shree Charani (4-20) and Deepti Sharma (3-19) restricted Sri Lanka. After the win, the Indian team refused to accept the trophy from Asian Cricket Council President Mohsin Naqvi, citing political tensions with Pakistan, mirroring a similar incident in the 2025 men’s final. The ceremony was cut short, with only Sri Lankan players receiving medals. India’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur praised the team’s performance, while head coach Amol Muzumdar highlighted the strategic use of spinners on a slow, turning pitch.