Following Pakistan cricket team’s disappointing exit from the group stage of the Champions Trophy 2025, further complications emerged after the final match held in Dubai. Despite Pakistan being the host nation, the final was moved to Dubai due to prior agreements ensuring India would play their matches there, avoiding travel to Pakistan.
The issue escalated when former Pakistani cricket personalities, including Shoaib Akhtar, noted the absence of any Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) representative at the presentation ceremony of the Champions Trophy 2025 final.
According to reports, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi was reportedly unwell, which prevented his attendance at the event. However, former Pakistan player Basit Ali voiced his opinion that Naqvi should have been present.
Basit Ali stated on his YouTube channel, “PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi should have made the trip to Dubai. In my opinion, as he has his own plane and Pakistan was the host, he could have easily attended and returned the same night. While only he knows the exact reason for his absence, he ideally should have been there.”
Ali also pointed out the presence of Jay Shah, noting, “Jay Shah was present, though he is now the ICC head, not the BCCI secretary, and perhaps should have been seated differently. In such high-profile positions, one must be mindful of media attention. The lack of Pakistani representation at the prize distribution was due to the PCB chairman’s absence.”
During the ceremony, BCCI president Roger Binny distributed white jackets to Indian players and medals to match officials. ICC chairman Jay Shah presented the trophy to India’s captain Rohit Sharma and awarded medals to the winning team. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and New Zealand Cricket CEO Roger Twose were also present on stage. It’s important to note that Saikia is a BCCI Director on the ICC board, and Binny serves as the Alternate Director.
Further controversy arose when Sumair Ahmed, PCB’s chief operating officer and the Champions Trophy tournament director, was not invited onto the stage for the final presentation.
A PCB official stated on Tuesday, “We have lodged a formal complaint with the ICC because we find this situation unacceptable.”
However, ICC sources suggest that no formal explanation will be given to the PCB.
An ICC source commented, “If PCB officials consider the protocol, even ICC CEO Geoff Allardice was not on stage. This was due to protocol.”
