In contrast to the comments made by Pakistani cricket legend Shoaib Akhtar, who criticized the lack of a representative from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) at the Champions Trophy presentation ceremony, it has been confirmed that the PCB did send an official to the closing ceremony in Dubai. However, this official was notably overlooked by the ICC, which has left the PCB extremely displeased.

As reported by PTI, a source indicated that the PCB's chief executive officer, Sumair Ahmed, who also served as the tournament director, was present at the Dubai International Stadium for the final match between India and New Zealand. Despite his presence, he was not invited to participate in the ceremony. He attended in place of PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who was unable to attend due to prior commitments as the federal minister for interior. During the trophy presentation, ICC chairman Jay Shah, BCCI president Roger Binny, and secretary Devajit Saikia distributed medals, trophies, and jackets to the players without acknowledging the PCB CEO.

The source suggested that the oversight may have been a misunderstanding on the part of the ICC, possibly due to a lack of effective communication between the PCB CEO and the ICC representatives responsible for organizing the final ceremony.

In light of this incident, the PCB is reportedly planning to address the issue with the ICC regarding the exclusion of its CEO from the stage during the closing ceremony.

Wasim Akram shocked

The 2025 Champions Trophy marked a pivotal moment for Pakistan, as it was the first time in 29 years that the country hosted an ICC tournament. Notably, five out of the 15 matches, including the final, took place in Dubai due to the competition's hybrid format.

The absence of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials during the post-match presentation ceremony left former cricketer Shoaib Akhtar perplexed. He remarked, "India has emerged victorious in the Champions Trophy, yet I observed that there was no PCB representative present after the final. Pakistan was the host nation for this tournament, and I find it difficult to comprehend this situation," Akhtar stated in a video shared on social media platform 'X'. "Why was there no one from the PCB to present the trophy? This is truly puzzling. It is a matter worth considering. This is an international event, and representation was essential. It is disheartening to witness this absence."

Wasim Akram, during his appearance on the Dressing Room show following the event, acknowledged that Sumair had replaced Naqvi as the PCB representative for the final in Dubai, yet he expressed his astonishment at Sumair's absence from the stage during the closing ceremony.

"As far as I am aware, the PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi was unwell, but the representatives who attended from the PCB were Sumair Ahmad Syed (Chief Operating Officer) and Usman Wahla (Director of International), yet neither was present on stage," he noted.

"Weren't we the hosts? How is it that even the COO of the PCB, or whoever was representing the Chairman, was not on stage? Were they not invited? I am uncertain about the circumstances. It certainly appeared unusual to me from my vantage point. It was crucial for Pakistan to have some form of representation on stage. Whether or not they presented the cup or medals, it was essential for someone to be there," Akram added.

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