The absence of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials from the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy final award ceremony following India's historic win has sparked controversy.
Sports News: India defeated New Zealand by 4 wickets in the final of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, securing their third title. India remained undefeated throughout the tournament, delivering impressive performances in every match. However, the location of their matches in Dubai also generated debate.
The 2025 Champions Trophy was originally scheduled to be held in Pakistan. However, due to political tensions between India and Pakistan, all of India's matches were held in Dubai under a hybrid model. This decision had already caused controversy, but further debate arose when no PCB officials were present at the award ceremony in Dubai after the final. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has now issued a clarification on this matter.
Why were no PCB officials invited?
India's 4-wicket victory over New Zealand in the final secured their third Champions Trophy title. However, the PCB's absence from the trophy presentation ceremony caused a stir in the cricketing world. Sources suggest that PCB CEO, Sumair Ahmed, was present at the stadium but was not invited on stage. Given that Ahmed also served as the tournament director, questions have arisen about his exclusion.
Former Pakistan cricketer, Shoaib Akhtar, expressed his displeasure on social media via a video, stating, "Pakistan was the host, yet no PCB official was present at the trophy ceremony. This is highly surprising."
The ICC's Official Statement
Amidst the controversy, the ICC has offered an explanation. According to an ICC spokesperson, "PCB Chairman Mohsin Khan did not travel to Dubai, and no other senior board officials were available. Regulations stipulate that only senior board officials can participate in the presentation ceremony. Since no senior PCB officials were present, they were not invited on stage."
The ICC's statement suggests that the PCB neglected to send its top officials to this significant event. However, despite this clarification, the controversy persists as the PCB has yet to issue an official response.
