Team India Wins ICC Champions Trophy 2025
India won the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, beating New Zealand in the final. Even though Pakistan was the host country of the tournament, all India's matches were played in Dubai. Yet, there was controversy when no representative from the host nation, Pakistan, attended the trophy presentation ceremony.
Reports indicate that Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi gave parliamentary commitments as the reason for his non-attendance. Furthermore, PCB Chief Operating Officer (COO) Sumair Ahmed, who was in Dubai, also failed to attend the ceremony. This has raised eyebrows, with former cricketer Shoaib Akhtar raising questions about the PCB's actions.
Shoaib Akhtar Questions PCB's Absence
Disappointed, Shoaib Akhtar faulted the PCB for failing to send a representative to the ceremony.
"India won the ICC Champions Trophy, but something was amiss. Pakistan was hosting, but no one from the PCB was present at the trophy presentation. Why wasn't anyone there? This is an ICC event, and Pakistan should have had a representative there. It's disappointing," Akhtar stated.
Did PCB Miss the Ceremony Because India Won?
The absence of the PCB has been met with widespread criticism, with some even suggesting that the board intentionally stayed away because India had won the tournament. The defending champions Pakistan did not win a single game and did not make it to the semi-finals.
In the meanwhile, cricket sources indicate that it is the International Cricket Council (ICC) which decides who should be invited to the podium. Though present in Dubai, PCB COO Sumair Ahmed was not invited, it is learnt. ICC Chairman Jay Shah, BCCI President Roger Binny, BCCI Secretary Devjit Saikia, and New Zealand Cricket Board Director Roger Twoge presented during the ceremony of presentation.
