The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has again being dragged in controversy for not sending a single representative to the 2025 Champions Trophy final at the Dubai International Stadium on March 9, Sunday. While India won the trophy with a four-wicket victory over New Zealand, the post-match presentation had prominent officials of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and cricket boards but no PCB representative were there on the stage despite Pakistan being the host nation.
Who Was On The Podium?
At the ceremony, the ICC chairman Jay Shah, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Roger Binny, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, and New Zealand Cricket (NZC) director Roger Twose were on the stage giving awards. Yet PCB’s chief operating officer, Sumair Ahmed, who was also the tournament director, was in Dubai but did not get invited onto the podium.
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Why Was PCB Chairman Missing?
In accordance with a report by Telecom Asia Sport (www.telecomasia.net), PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi did not go to Dubai because of his official duty as Pakistan’s interior minister. He had already indicated to the ICC that he was busy with a combined parliament session in Islamabad, in which President Asif Zardari would address the country.
Shoaib Akhtar Furious After No PCB Official In Champions Trophy Final
Shoaib Akhtar, a former Pakistan fast bowler, spoke out on social media that PCB’s no-show to the stage was “beyond his comprehension.” There are some former cricketers of Pakistan who feel that this decision could be interpreted as sending the wrong signal to India, perhaps even suggesting the PCB chairman knowingly skipped the ceremony because India made it to the final and went on to lift the trophy.
“India has won the ICC Champions Trophy today but I noticed something strange. Pakistan were the hosts in the tournament but there were no Pakistan Cricket Board representatives here (at the trophy presentation). This is beyond my understanding. Why was there no one to represent us and give the trophy? Please think about it, it’s a world stage but sadly I could not see any PCB members. Feeling very down to see that,” said Akhtar in a video posted on X.
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Pakistan’s Disappointing Run
The 2025 Champions Trophy was extremely embarrassing for Pakistan, as they hosted their first home ICC tournament in 29 years. The campaign was disappointing for them as they got eliminated in the group stage following losses to New Zealand and India.
Who Chooses The Podium Guests?
According to the report, it is the duty of the ICC to pick the dignitaries who appear on the podium. Even though PCB representative Sumair Ahmed was present in Dubai, he was left out of the official list for the awards ceremony, which creates more questions about the board’s absence at this particular moment of the tournament.
