Pakistan, Sept. 16 -- India won the Women's Asia Cup. Sri Lanka were beaten by 72 runs; India secured the title, and on the field, it had every reason to celebrate.

Yet once again, the defining image from an Asian cricket final was not a cricketing moment.

It was a political one.

India's women chose not to receive the trophy from Asian Cricket Council President Mohsin Naqvi. The decision was not unprecedented. India's men had adopted the same position after winning the Men's Asia Cup last year.

At this point, the issue is no longer about one trophy, one ceremony or one individual.

It is about what happens when politics begins dictating the behaviour of sport.

Mohsin Naqvi was not standing on that podium simply as a Pakistani politic...