The International Cricket Council (ICC) has provided clarification on the absence of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials from the 2025 Champions Trophy presentation ceremony in Dubai. Fans and experts were surprised to see no PCB representative on the podium, despite Pakistan hosting the event.
An ICC spokesperson revealed that PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi was not available for the 2025 Champions Trophy final and did not travel to Dubai. In his absence, PCB COO and tournament director Sumair Ahmad Syed attended the summit clash.
Regarding why Syed was not invited to the stage during the presentation or prize distribution ceremony, the spokesperson stated (quoted by Times of India):
“Mr. Naqvi was unavailable and did not travel to Dubai for the final. The ICC only invites the head of the host board such as the president, vice president, chairman, or CEO – to participate in the awards ceremony. Other board officials, even if present at the venue, are not part of the stage proceedings.”
India emerged victorious by defeating New Zealand by four wickets in the final. The Men in Blue skipper Rohit Sharma received the prestigious trophy from ICC chairman Jay Shah, while the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president presented the white blazers to the members of the winning team.
Although Pakistan was the official host of the 2025 Champions Trophy, all of India’s matches took place in Dubai due to the board’s concerns about security issues in the neighboring country.
“We hosted the tournament, yet there was nobody there” – Shoaib Akhtar expresses disappointment over absence of PCB official at 2025 Champions Trophy final ceremony
After the 2025 Champions Trophy final, former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar took to social media to express his dismay over the absence of PCB officials from the presentation ceremony.
He highlighted that Pakistan hosted the tournament, and it was expected that someone from the PCB would be on the stage. The 49-year-old mentioned (quoted by Hindustan Times):
“India has won the ICC Champions Trophy. There was one odd thing: no one from the Pakistan Cricket Board during the presentation ceremony. Pakistan is the host of the Champions Trophy, but there was no representative of Pakistan who was standing. No one was there to present the trophy. It is beyond me.
“Think about it. It was the world stage, you should have been there, but sadly, I could not see any Pakistan Cricket Board member there. We hosted the tournament, yet there was nobody there. Feeling very down to see that.”
Pakistan had a disappointing performance in the tournament, leading to an early elimination in the group stage and finishing at the bottom of the Group A points table.
Edited by Vaishnavi Iyer
