The final of the Champions Trophy 2025 was played between India and New Zealand in Dubai, in which India won by 4 wickets and won the title. But the absence of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made more headlines than this historic victory.
Since Pakistan was the official host of the tournament, the absence of any PCB official at the awards ceremony was quite surprising. This is the reason why the International Cricket Council (ICC) has now come under criticism.
Where were the PCB officials missing?
According to Geo News report, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi was supposed to go to Dubai for the final, but due to health reasons he could not travel. However, tournament director and PCB chief operating officer (COO) Sumair Ahmed Syed was present there. Despite this, he was not included in the trophy distribution ceremony.
Sources say that PCB should have been on stage at the event as Pakistan was the official host of the tournament. But ICC gave a big blow to the cricket fans of Pakistan by not calling the PCB officials.
ICC’s clarification and questions arising
Giving clarification on this matter, ICC spokesperson said that only official officials of PCB could have been invited to the award distribution ceremony. But since the PCB Chairman was not present there, no other official could attend.
However, many cricket experts and fans have called it a deliberate insult. On social media, people are taking ICC to task and asking questions that when the tournament was organized in the name of Pakistan, then why was PCB absent in the awards ceremony?
India won the trophy, but why did the question of hosting arise?
The most interesting thing amidst this entire controversy is that the hosting of Champions Trophy 2025 was in the name of Pakistan, but India played all its matches in Dubai, including the final. Actually, the final match was to be held in Lahore, but due to India’s refusal to play in Pakistan, it was shifted to Dubai.
This decision had already put a question mark on PCB’s hosting rights. On top of that, the absence of PCB in the awards ceremony has further increased the controversy.
