Team India clinched the Champions Trophy 2025 title after defeating New Zealand in the final. However, the subsequent award ceremony sparked controversy due to the absence of any Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials on stage.
Sports News: The Champions Trophy 2025 concluded with India's victory over New Zealand in the final. While the Indian team has returned home with the trophy, the post-match award ceremony remains a point of contention. Notably, the absence of any Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials on the award stage has drawn criticism from several former Pakistani cricketers and fans.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has issued a statement clarifying that the award ceremony followed established protocol.
Why were no PCB officials on stage?
The post-match award ceremony included ICC Chairman Jay Shah, BCCI President Roger Binny, BCCI Secretary Devjit Saikia, and New Zealand Cricket director Roger Twose. However, the absence of any representative from the host board, the PCB, initiated the controversy.
The ICC clarified that PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi was invited to the stage but did not attend. According to regulations, the ICC can only invite the head (Chairman, Vice-Chairman, or CEO) of the host board. If the PCB chairman is unavailable, no other board officials can participate.
Outrage from Former Pakistani Cricketers
Former Pakistani cricketer Wasim Akram expressed his displeasure, stating, "If the chairman was unwell, someone else from the PCB should have been there. It was a major tournament, and the absence of any host board representative on stage is highly unusual."
The tournament proved disappointing for the Pakistan team. Two losses in the group stage and a rain-affected match resulted in their elimination. India, on the other hand, maintained their b performance, winning all their matches. After defeating Australia in the semi-final, they secured the title with a 4-wicket victory over New Zealand in the final.
Even after the ICC's statement, questions remain regarding who prevented the PCB chairman from attending the stage. Was the chairman unwilling to participate? Pakistani cricket fans and former greats believe the controversy could have been avoided had a PCB representative been present.
