The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is reportedly furious for not being invited to the final presentation ceremony of the Champions Trophy 2025. The PCB is likely to protest regarding this matter to the International Cricket Council (ICC).
It is to be noted that there was no representation from the host country Pakistan on the stage for the presentation ceremony for the Champions Trophy 2025 final played in Dubai. It was an awkward moment for the host country as they were involved in organising the tournament.
ICC chairman Jay Shah, BCCI president Roger Binny, and BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia were among the dignitaries who were on the stage to provide the medals to the players and the officials. However, there was no representation from the PCB.
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PCB furious at ICC for not being invited
According to a report in PTI, a source claimed that the Pakistan Cricket Board CEO Sumair Ahmed was present at the venue being the director of the tournament but wasn’t invited by the ICC on the stage for the final.
Ahmed was the only Pakistan representative at the venue but wasn’t invited to the final presentation ceremony due to some misunderstanding. The source also revealed that Mohsin Naqvi could not travel due to some commitments but Sumair Ahmed was sent to represent Pakistan.
“PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi didn’t go to Dubai because of prior commitments as federal minister for interior but the PCB CEO was sent to represent Pakistan at the final and closing presentation,” the source claimed.
The PCB is likely to register the protest to the ICC regarding this matter as they had the right to have their representative on the stage being the hosts of the competition. Despite some of the games happening in Dubai, Pakistan were the hosts for the tournament.
Shoaib Akhtar speaks on the issue
Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar also expressed his disappointment on this matter and took to social media. He asked the authorities about the reason for the absence of his country’s officials during the ceremony.
“India has won the Champions Trophy but I noticed there was no representative from the PCB after the final. Pakistan was hosting the Champions Trophy. I do not understand it,” Akhtar said in a video on X (formerly Twitter).
“Why was nobody there to present the trophy? It is beyond me. It is something to think about. This is the world stage, you should have been here. Feeling very down to see that,” he added.
This is literally beyond my understanding.
How can this be done???#championstrophy2025 pic.twitter.com/CPIUgevFj9— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) March 9, 2025
Why is India not playing in Pakistan?
Pakistan were picked as the original hosts of the tournament and were given the full hosting rights initially. However, the BCCI claimed that they could not send the Indian team to Pakistan due to the Indian government’s refusal.
As a result, it was mutually concluded that India would play all of their matches in Dubai according to the hybrid model. All the other matches were played in three cities of Pakistan – Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Karachi.
The final was scheduled to be held in Lahore or Dubai based on India’s presence. With India winning the first semi-final, it was clear that the final wouldn’t be played in Pakistan and would be instead played in Dubai.
