Dubai, March 10, 2025: The absence of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials from the Champions Trophy 2025 final presentation ceremony has sparked criticism from former cricketers and fans alike.
India defeated New Zealand in the final at Dubai International Stadium, marking a significant triumph for the Men in Blue. However, Pakistan, the official host of the tournament, was notably missing from the podium. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi was absent, reportedly due to illness, and even Tournament Director Sumair Ahmed Syed was not seen on stage, raising eyebrows about Pakistan’s representation in its own hosted event.
The absence did not go unnoticed, with former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram questioning the situation during a discussion on Ten Sports’ program The DP World Dressing Room.
“We [Pakistan] were the hosts, weren’t we? Then why was no PCB representative present on stage? Were they not invited? It definitely looked odd to me sitting here as well.”
Akram added that PCB COO Sumair Ahmed Syed and Director International Cricket Usman Wahla were present in the stadium, but none were seen on the podium during the trophy handover.
Former pacer Shoaib Akhtar, speaking on his YouTube channel, also expressed disappointment:
“Pakistan were the hosts, yet no PCB official was present at the ceremony. This is beyond my understanding. Someone should have been there to hand over the trophy or at least be part of the moment.”
PCB Chairman Naqvi later congratulated the teams and officials on social media but did not address the controversy surrounding Pakistan’s absence at the presentation.
The PCB has declined to comment officially, but reports suggest that the board may raise the issue with the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding COO Sumair Ahmed Syed not being invited on stage.
India played all their matches in Dubai, having refused to travel to Pakistan due to political tensions. This arrangement, part of a hybrid model negotiated between PCB and BCCI, allowed India to play at a single venue, avoiding travel fatigue while other teams had to shuttle between Pakistan and the UAE.
South African batter David Miller criticized the setup, calling it “not ideal”, while his teammate Van der Dussen acknowledged that staying in one location gave India a clear advantage. Even Pakistan had to fly to Dubai for their clash against India, rather than playing them on home soil.
With India being the biggest financial contributor to world cricket, the ICC had little choice but to accept BCCI’s demands of shifting India’s matches away from Pakistan. The move echoes broader political tensions between India and Pakistan, with the BJP-led Indian government refusing bilateral series since 2013.
Despite cricketing relations remaining strained, India and Pakistan continue to face each other in ICC tournaments at neutral venues. The Champions Trophy 2025, marred by scheduling controversies and Pakistan’s absence from its own presentation ceremony, only adds to the growing debate about India’s dominance over world cricket.
