India gamers have fun with the trophy on the rostrum after successful the ICC Males’s Champions Trophy at Dubai Worldwide Stadium, United Arab Emirates on March 9, 2025. — Reuters
KARACHI: The Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC) is dealing with criticism over the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) clear absence from the presentation ceremony of Champions Trophy 2025, a event hosted by Pakistan.
The absence of any PCB official on the ceremony, the place the host nation has been represented historically, has sparked debate and raised questions concerning the ICC’s organising of the occasion.
A number of sources confirmed that PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who was anticipated to attend the ceremony, had been unable to journey to Dubai attributable to well being causes.
Nonetheless, the PCB’s Chief Working Officer (COO) and Event Director Sumair Ahmed Syed was current on the remaining match in Dubai, however regardless of his availability, the ICC didn’t embody him within the presentation get together, a choice that has been described as a deliberate snub by varied quarters.
“The chairman couldn’t travel, but COO Sumair Ahmed Syed was there and attended the final. He should have been on stage to represent the PCB,” a supply near the matter advised this correspondent.
In the meantime, composition of the ultimate presentation get together, which included BCCI President Roger Binny, Secretary Devajit Saikia, former New Zealand participant Roger Twose, and ICC Chairman Jay Shah, additional fueled the controversy.
The followers have additionally questioned the choice to have former Australian captain Aaron Finch carry the trophy onto the stage as a substitute of Sarfaraz Ahmed, the Pakistani captain who led his crew to victory within the earlier version of the ICC Champions Trophy. This transfer was seen as a missed alternative to honor Pakistan’s cricketing legacy and additional alienated the host nation’s supporters.
Based on the sources, it was the ICC that had full authority to resolve the composition of the presentation get together. They’ve but to difficulty any assertion on the matter.
Many argue that this displays a broader sample of disregard for Pakistan’s contributions to worldwide cricket and its efforts whereas internet hosting the ICC Champions Trophy.
