According to the reports, the Cricket Board of Pakistan (PCB) is furious for not being invited to the final presentation ceremony of the Champions Trophy 2025. The PCB is likely to protest with respect to this matter to the International Cricket Council (ICC).
It should be noted that there was no representation of the country host Pakistan on stage for the presentation ceremony for the Champions Trophy 2025 playing in Dubai. It was an awkward moment for the host country, since they were involved in the organization of the tournament.
The president of the ICC, Jay Shah, the president of BCCI, Roger Binny, and the secretary of BCCI, Devajit Saikia, were among the dignitaries who were on stage to provide the medals to the players and the officials. However, there was no representation of the PCB.
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PCB Furious in ICC for not being guest
According to a report on PTI, a source said that the CEO of the Cricket Board of Pakistan, Sumair Ahmed, was present at the place as the director of the tournament, but that the ICC on stage on stage for the final.
Ahmed was the only representative of Pakistan in the place, but was not invited to the final presentation ceremony due to some misunderstandings. The source also revealed that Mohsin Naqvi could not travel due to some commitments, but Sumair Ahmed was sent to represent Pakistan.
“The president of PCB, Mohsin Naqvi, did not go to Dubai due to previous commitments as a federal interior minister, but the CEO of PCB was sent to represent Pakistan in the final presentation and closing,” said the source.
The PCB is likely to register the protest to the ICC regarding this matter, since they had the right to have their representative on stage be the hosts of the competition. Despite some of the games in Dubai, Pakistan were the hosts of the tournament.
Shoaib Akhtar talks about the subject
The former Pakistan Rapid player, Shoaib Akhtar, also expressed his disappointment for this matter and resorted to social networks. He asked the authorities about the reason for the absence of their country’s officials during the ceremony.
“India has won the Champions Trophy, but I noticed that there were no representative of the PCB after the final. Pakistan was receiving the Champions Trophy. I don’t understand it,” Akhtar said in a video in X (previously Twitter).
“Why was no one there to present the trophy? It’s beyond me. It’s 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?#Championstropia2025 pic.twitter.com/cpiugevfj9– Shoaib Akhtar (@Shoaib100mph) March 9, 2025
Why are India playing in Pakistan?
Pakistan was chosen as the original hosts of the tournament and initially were given the complete host rights. However, the BCCI said they could not send Pakistan to the Indian team due to the refusal of the Indian government.
As a result, it was concluded that India would play all its games in Dubai according to the hybrid model. All other games were played in three cities in Pakistan: Lahore, Rawalpindi and Karachi.
The final was scheduled to be held at Lahore or Dubai based on the presence of India. With India winning the first semifinal, it was clear that the final would not be played in Pakistan and instead would be played in Dubai.
