The Champions Trophy 2025, a 20-day tournament featuring 15 matches, concluded at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS) with India claiming the victory. However, the event was marked by controversy as Pakistan raised concerns about the lack of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) representation at the trophy presentation. Pakistan was the designated host of the tournament.
Shoaib Akhtar voiced his surprise in a social media video, stating, “India won the Champions Trophy, but something struck me as odd. Despite Pakistan being the host nation, there wasn’t a single PCB representative on the podium. I’m baffled as to why there was no national representation. Someone from Pakistan should have been present on such a significant global stage. Regrettably, I didn’t see any PCB officials there.”
Despite being the hosts, no elected PCB member attended the closing ceremony in Dubai on Sunday. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi was absent, and instead, the PCB delegated Sumair Ahmed, the tournament director for the Pakistan-hosted portion of the Champions Trophy, as their representative.
However, it’s understood that established protocols restricted podium access to elected board members or directors. Dignitaries present included Jay Shah, ICC Chair; Roger Binny and Devajit Saikia, President and Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI); and Roger Twose, director of New Zealand Cricket.
Notably, Andre Russell, the tournament director responsible for the Dubai leg of the Champions Trophy, was also not invited to the podium, reinforcing that only board office-bearers and directors were permitted on stage.
