A controversy erupted after the International Cricket Council (ICC) failed to invite a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official on stage during the Champions Trophy closing ceremony in Dubai. According to sources, PCB CEO Sumair Ahmed, who also served as the tournament’s director, was present at the venue but was not called to the podium.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi was unable to attend due to prior commitments as the federal interior minister, so Ahmed was sent as Pakistan’s representative.
However, when ICC Chairman Jay Shah, along with BCCI President Roger Binny and Secretary Devajit Saikia, distributed the medals, trophies, and jackets, no PCB official was present on stage. The absence of Pakistan’s representative has raised concerns, and the PCB is expected to formally address the matter with the ICC.
Possible Miscommunication and Reaction from Shoaib Akhtar
Sources suggest that a possible miscommunication between the PCB and ICC officials might have led to Ahmed being left out of the ceremony. However, this omission has sparked frustration within Pakistan’s cricketing circles. Former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was among those questioning the situation.
In a video posted on social media, Akhtar expressed his disappointment, highlighting that as the host nation, Pakistan should have had a representative at the event. “India has won the Champions Trophy, but I noticed there was no representative from the PCB after the final. Pakistan was hosting the tournament. I do not understand it,” he said. Akhtar further stated that this oversight on such a major stage was unacceptable and something the PCB should seriously reflect upon.
India’s Hybrid Model Participation and PCB’s Next Steps
The absence of a PCB official on stage is particularly significant given the political tensions surrounding the tournament. India had refused to play in Pakistan, citing security concerns, which led to the adoption of a hybrid model that allowed India to play their matches in Dubai. Despite this compromise, Pakistan, as the official host, had no presence at the closing ceremony.
While Binny presented white jackets to the Indian team and medals to the match officials, and Shah handed the trophy to India’s captain Rohit Sharma, no PCB representative was included. The PCB is now expected to escalate the issue with the ICC to seek an explanation and ensure that such an oversight does not occur in future events.
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