“It definitely looked odd to me while sitting here”, Wasim Akram on PCB’s absence in post-match Champions Trophy ceremony

The absence of PCB representatives in the post-match presentation of the Champions Trophy 2025 did not go well with the former Pakistani players. While Shoaib Akhtar questioned the same, Wasim Akram was also shocked. However, reports suggest that a PCB official was present there but was not invited for the ceremony.

Former cricketers question PCB’s absence on CT stage

During a chat show after the event, Shoaib Akhtar questioned the absence of Pakistan Cricket Board representative during the post-match presentation of the Champions Trophy final. Akram, on the other hand, explained how odd it was to see absence of the official host on the stage. “India has won the Champions Trophy but I noticed there was no representative from the PCB after the final. Pakistan was hosting the Champions Trophy. I do not understand it,” Akhtar said in a video posted on social ‘X’. “Why was nobody (from PCB) there to present the trophy? It is beyond me. It is something to think about. This is the world stage, you should have been here. Feeling very down to see that.”

Wasim Akram who was aware of the PCB chairman’s unwellness and the Chief Operating Officer of the Pakistan board representing him, was shocked. During the Dressing Room show after the event, he said, “As far as I know, Chairman Saab (PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi) wasn’t well but the people that came from there (PCB) were Sumair Ahmad Syed (Chief Operating Officer of PCB) and Usman Wahla (Director of International for PCB) but no one was there on the stage.”

He added, “We were the host, weren’t we right? How come even the COO of PCB or whoever it may be who was representing Chairman Saab, why weren’t they on stage? Were they not invited? I don’t know what is the story. It definitely looked odd to me while sitting here. Pakistani, koi na koi stage par khada hona bahot jaruri tha. Chahe wo cup na de, chahe wo medal na de but somebody should’ve been there. (It was imperative that Pakistan should have had representation in any form.).”

PCB to address the issue

Meanwhile, according to a report in the PTI, a source confirmed that PCB’s chief executive officer, Sumair Ahmed, who was also the tournament director, was present at the Dubai International Stadium for the Champions Trophy final. But he was not invited for the post-match ceremony where ICC chairman Jay Shah, BCCI president Roger Binny and secretary Devajit Saikia were on the stage.  “PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi didn’t go to Dubai because of prior commitments as federal minister for interior, but the PCB CEO was sent to represent Pakistan at the final and closing presentation,” the source said.

Although the source reckoned it was a misunderstanding, Pakistan Crikcet Board might take up the matter with the ICC. Pakistan hosted an ICC tournament for the first time in 29 years. However, five of 15 matches including the final was played in Dubai as India were not traveling to Pakistan due to security reasons.

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