Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi expressed his gratitude to the team for the successful organization of the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan. He described it as a ‘historic event’ for cricket enthusiasts around the world.
The Champions Trophy, featuring eight teams and officially hosted by Pakistan, concluded on Sunday with India’s victory over New Zealand in Dubai. Due to India’s decision not to travel to Pakistan, all of their matches were held in Dubai. This tournament marked Pakistan’s first major ICC event since they co-hosted the 1996 ODI World Cup with India and Sri Lanka.
In a message on X, Naqvi thanked the PCB team, law enforcement, provincial governments, ICC officials, and the cricket teams that participated in Pakistan for their combined efforts in ensuring the smooth and successful execution of the tournament. He reiterated Pakistan’s pride in hosting the global event, emphasizing its historical significance for cricket fans globally.
The matches were held across three Pakistani cities – Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi – while India’s games, including the final, took place in Dubai.
Former Pakistani cricketers Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar criticized the PCB for the absence of any Pakistani representatives at the Champions Trophy final presentation ceremony in Dubai. They noted the lack of PCB or Pakistani cricket officials during the prize distribution, despite Pakistan being the host nation. ICC Chairman Jay Shah presented the trophy to the Indian captain, and BCCI officials were also present on stage.
Akram questioned why no PCB representative was on stage, even if Chairman Naqvi was unwell. Akhtar echoed this sentiment, expressing disappointment at the absence of any Pakistani representative during the presentation, considering Pakistan was the host.
