PCB furious over CT ceremony snub

The officials demand an explanation as to why the host board was ignored

LAHORE:

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has come under scrutiny after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was noticeably absent from the presentation ceremony following the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final in Dubai—a tournament originally hosted by Pakistan.

The absence of any PCB official at the ceremony, where host nations are traditionally represented, has sparked debate and raised questions about the ICC's management of the event.

Multiple sources confirmed that PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who was expected to attend, was unable to travel to Dubai due to health reasons.

However, the PCB's Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Tournament Director, Sumair Ahmed Syed, was present at the final.

Despite his availability, the ICC did not include him in the presentation party—a decision described by various quarters as a deliberate snub.

"The chairman couldn't travel, but COO Sumair Ahmed Syed was there and attended the final. He should have been on stage to represent the PCB," a source close to the matter told this correspondent.

However, no official statement has been issued by the PCB regarding the matter.

An ICC spokesperson said that PCB Management Committee Chairman Mohsin Naqvi was invited to attend the final ceremony but did not come.

"Mr. Naqvi was unavailable and did not travel to Dubai for the final," the spokesperson stated.

Some journalists and experts raised concerns about the lack of Pakistani representation during the ceremony. In response, the ICC explained that it follows the same rules for all its tournaments.

"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," the spokesperson said.

The ICC made it clear that this rule was not specific to the Champions Trophy but has been applied in all past events. The reason no PCB official was on stage was that Pakistan's designated representative did not attend.

The composition of the final presentation party, which included BCCI President Roger Binny, Secretary Devajit Saikia, former New Zealand cricketer Roger Twose and ICC Chairman Jay Shah, has further fueled the controversy.

Some of the media representatives have also questioned the ICC's decision to have former Australian captain Aaron Finch present the trophy instead of Sarfaraz Ahmed, the Pakistan captain who led his team to victory in the previous edition of the Champions Trophy.

Many saw this as a missed opportunity to honor Pakistan's cricketing legacy, further alienating the host nation's supporters.

Many argue that this incident reflects a broader pattern of disregard for Pakistan's contributions to international cricket, particularly in the context of hosting the ICC Champions Trophy.

Meanwhile, Following the successful conclusion of the event, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi expressed his gratitude to everyone who contributed to making the tournament a resounding success.

In a heartfelt message, he acknowledged the relentless efforts of the PCB team, law enforcement agencies, provincial governments, ICC officials, and the participating teams.

"I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated PCB team, the vigilant law enforcement agencies, the supportive provincial governments, the esteemed ICC officials, and all the phenomenal participating cricket teams that traveled to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025," Naqvi posted on X.

"Your relentless efforts made it possible for us to hold the Champions Trophy 2025 seamlessly and turn it into a remarkable success story," he added.

He emphasised Pakistan's immense pride in hosting the tournament, calling it a historic achievement for cricket fans worldwide.

The successful organization of the event is expected to bolster Pakistan's reputation as a safe and capable host for international cricket, paving the way for more major tournaments in the future.