BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia on Monday (September 14, 2026) said the women’s cricket team’s refusal to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Asian Cricket Council’s (ACC) Pakistani chief Mohsin Naqvi was a “conscious, institutional” call taken by the Board keeping circumstances and sentiments in view.

The Indian women’s team defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final on Sunday (September 13) in Dubai but did not accept the trophy from Mr. , continuing a trend started by the men’s team during the 2025 Asia Cup following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people.

“We had taken a conscious decision considering all prevailing aspects, and our position had been communicated to the ACC in advance, that the Indian team would not participate in the trophy presentation under the circumstances,” Mr. Saikia told PTI.

“Given the circumstances and the sentiments prevailing in the country, the BCCI felt that it would not be appropriate for the team to receive the trophy in the proposed manner.”

“This was a firm institutional decision, reflective of the position we have maintained, and was not directed at the players, the tournament or the sport,” he added.

Following the terror attack in April last year, the two countries were also engaged in a brief military showdown in May.

While there is a prevailing debate whether India should boycott all games against Pakistan, Secretary Saikia reiterated that all sporting commitments would always be fulfilled as government of India has allowed them to play the hostile neighbours in multi-nation tournament.

“Our participation in the Asia Cup was in fulfilment of our sporting commitments as a member of the ACC by adhering to the policy in place, and there was never any question of compromising on the spirit of the game or our commitment to international cricket.

“However, participation in a multinational tournament and the manner in which the trophy is received are two separate matters,” the Advocate General of Assam stated.

While holding the trophy aloft would have been a great moment, the BCCI secretary is happy that Harmanpreet Kaur’s side accomplished its assignment to perfection.

“The Indian women’s team has done what matters most, they have won the Asia Cup through their outstanding performance on the field. We as well as whole nation are immensely proud of the team, and the achievement belongs to the players and to Indian cricket.” The women’s team will now be flying to Japan to defend its gold medal won in Hangzhou during the last edition of the Asian Games.

“Now, our focus is on the Asian Games and we do not allow any distraction at this stage from the preparation for the same,” Mr. Saikia signed off.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia on Monday (September 7, 2026) said the historic one-off T20 International between India and Japan this month will be a significant moment in cricket’s journey to become a global sport by connecting to a new audience.

India and Japan are set to lock horns for the first time in a historic T20I in Japan on September 22, ahead of the men’s cricket competition at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. The Games will start on September 19.

The match will be played at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi Prefecture. Played under the banner of the Suzuki Cup, it will commemorate the 75th anniversary of India–Japan diplomatic relations.

Mr. Saikia said the match is an effort of ICC chairman Jay Shah to take cricket to newer territories.

“Cricket’s global journey is being shaped by moments that take the game beyond its traditional boundaries. The India–Japan T20I match on 22nd September,’26 is one such moment taking international cricket to Japan, connecting with a new audience and strengthening the game’s presence in a region with immense potential,” Mr. Saikia wrote on ‘X’.

“It is also an opportunity to recognise the vision and groundwork laid by Shri Jay Shah during his tenure as BCCI Secretary, and now as ICC Chairman, in placing the global growth of cricket firmly at the heart of the sport’s future. From expanding cricket into new territories to building a stronger pathway towards the Olympic movement, the ambition has always been clear: make cricket more accessible, more inclusive and truly global,” he added.

Mr. Saikia said BCCI is committed to working towards making cricket a global sport.

“India-Japan is more than a cricket match. It represents the direction in which our sport is moving from a global ambition to a global reality,” he said.

“The journey has begun. And there is much more to come.” Ranked No.1, India are the reigning T20 World Cup champions, while Japan are placed 41st in ICC T20 rankings.

The match will also help India acclimatise to Japanese conditions and give them valuable game time to fine-tune combinations and build momentum ahead of the Asian Games.

Seeded directly into the knockout stage, India will begin their Asian Games campaign in the quarterfinals on September 28.

The Indian team will be led by Shreyas Iyer, with vice-captain Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson and teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi among the key names in the squad.

Ajit Agarkar’s absence from the BCCI performance review meeting on Thursday has intensified speculation over his future as chief selector beyond this month.

Agarkar, who has chaired the National selection committee since July 2023, was the only key stakeholder missing from the high-profile meet convened at the BCCI headquarters to review India’s recent performances and chart a roadmap for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia sought to downplay his absence, insisting that Agarkar was unavailable because of “personal commitments” and that the meeting had been organised “at short notice”. Yet, with Agarkar’s existing contract set to expire at the end of the month, his non-attendance has fuelled murmurs about a growing distance between him and the Board’s hierarchy.

The Hindu understands that the relationship between the two sides has been strained since July, when Saikia publicly issued a statement backing Rohit Sharma’s continuation in India’s ODI set-up without consulting Agarkar and his fellow selectors. The move came amid internal discussions over Rohit’s future and created unease within the selection panel.

Since then, there has reportedly been no formal communication between the BCCI administration and Agarkar regarding a possible extension. Under the Board’s regulations, the former India pacer is eligible for a contract renewal, which would allow continuity through the ODI World Cup cycle.

“There was no such discussion in today’s meeting,” Saikia said when asked whether Agarkar would get another year at the helm. “There was no discussion on the selection committee. Our whole focus was on the performance in England and Ireland as well as the recent Test series in Sri Lanka and what we are going to do in the upcoming series and the World Cup, which is our ultimate goal.”

This time last year, when the 2025-26 Duleep Trophy was held at the BCCI’s sprawling Centre of Excellence (CoE) in the city outskirts, supporters were a disappointed lot.

The first-round matches of the domestic cricket season-opener were not broadcast on television and the whole tournament was held behind closed doors. However, in glad tidings for the fans, the 2026-27 edition, which begins on August 23 at the CoE, will see an increased share of matches on television.

And the BCCI even said that it would explore the option of holding at least the final at a proper stadium which can seat an audience. “There are some government restrictions to how we use this land and because of that, we cannot have crowds in this campus,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said on Sunday while answering a question from The Hindu.

“But this year, we have increased the number of matches to be telecast. That way, we are giving fans the chance to watch their favourite players and teams. We definitely appreciate your suggestion to see whether the final can be hosted in a stadium. We still have time and we’ll look into that aspect.”

With Indian cricket in the throes of an injury crisis, the latest being Jasprit Bumrah and B. Sai Sudharsan’s absence from the upcoming tour to Sri Lanka, V.V.S. Laxman, head of BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE), defended the institution’s injury-management methods and recovery protocols.

“We don’t like to use the word blame, because when you do, you’re [trying to] find a scapegoat,” Laxman told reporters at the CoE premises on Sunday. “There’s brilliant coordination between the CoE, the team management and the SSM (Sports Science & Medicine) staff.”

There has been a worrying trend of players being declared fit only to pick up a new injury within a short period of time. Laxman stressed that this was not a cause for concern even as he clarified that the “CoE was not a rehab centre” and that it had a “bigger mandate”.

“When someone is playing at the elite level, you’re supposed to give more than 100%,” Laxman said. “Injuries are bound to happen. If you’re thinking about not getting injured, you’re not playing to the best of your ability. Monitoring is very, very critical, and I’ve got no doubt that Adrian Le Roux (S&C coach, Indian team) and others are doing that,” the 51-year-old added.

Both Bumrah and Sai Sudharsan were named conditionally in the squad for the two Tests against Sri Lanka before failing to obtain fitness clearances. Asked if it would be prudent to avoid players who are still undergoing rehabilitation, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia replied in the negative.

“We have our selection meetings at least three to four weeks before the team departs,” Saikia said. “We don’t reject because by the time the player will have to travel or play, he may be totally fit. It’s a human body, not a machine. It may take 14 days or 28 days.”

The CoE has been without a Head of Sports Science since Nitin Patel’s exit in March 2025. Saikia attributed this to an “acute shortage of right candidates” and Laxman stated that there will be no unseemly haste in the appointment process, for quality was paramount.

Andrew Leipus, who had had successful tenures with the Indian National team and the erstwhile National Cricket Academy, was the BCCI’s first choice to replace Nitin, but he pulled out.

“Andrew had almost agreed but then backed out,” Laxman said. “The next interview process was extensive, and the first candidate was from Australia, but he did not join. The second and third candidates are already working at the CoE. It is our responsibility to upskill them while we identify someone of that stature, experience and knowledge.”

Concerned with the spate of injuries that has rocked Indian team of late, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia will be meeting Head Of Cricket VVS Laxman on Sunday to take a stock of the rehabilitation management programme at the Centre of Excellence (COE).

India will be missing the services of Jasprit Bumrah (knee swelling), B Sai Sudharsan (left foot big toe), Harshit Rana (hamstring), Nitish Kumar Reddy (hamstring) and Washington Sundar (quadriceps) due to various injuries. Akash Deep (lower back stress fracture) has been out for the longest time since Bengal’s Ranji Trophy semi-final defeat.

Adding to that, white ball experts Hardik Pandya (quadriceps), Varun Chakravarthy (hamstring) and Prince Yadav (hamstring) are also at the Centre of Excellence where the Sports Science team is overworked without a figure head since the resignation of Nitin Patel in early 2025. Right now the challenge is to get all these players back on the park.

Sudharsan and Bumrah were enlisted in the squad subject to fitness but COE’s team of experts decided to exercise caution looking at the bigger picture.

“Yes, secretary Saikia will be in Bengaluru to take a stock of the situation along with VVS Laxman. There is a meeting scheduled between the two. It is not known whether head coach of national team Gautam Gambhir or chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar will join online or not. It will be interesting if both Saikia and Laxman can front up and answer a few media queries with so many conjectures,” a BCCI source in the know told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

There are also rumours that COE and the current selection committee has always not been in sync with regards to the injury management timelines and some of the players being released before they ticked all the boxes.

The issue of Harshit Rana reaching England after being distinctly overweight has not gone down well with the selection committee.

Similarly, the selection committee was initially made to believe that Bumrah and Sudarshan will be at least available for one of the two Test matches.

However once the dust settled down, it was found that Bumrah, post impact injury is finding that there is water retention in his knee which requires more time to heal.

In case of Sudharsan, he was batting 75 minutes a day for some time but the pain still persists on his big toe.

Nitish Reddy tried to increase his pace by a good 7 to 8 kmph and that put a toll on his hamstring and quadriceps. PTI KHS SSC SSC