Champions Trophy 2025 Controversy: Pakistan Legend Questions, “Why No…”

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is facing heavy criticism for not having a single representative at the 2025 Champions Trophy final at Dubai International Stadium on Sunday. India secured the title with a four-wicket victory over New Zealand. ICC chairman Jay Shah, BCCI president Roger Binny, secretary Devajit Saikia, and NZC director Roger Twose stood on the podium to present awards. PCB chief operating officer Sumair Ahmed, who also served as the tournament director, attended the event in Dubai but did not receive an invitation to the podium.

PCB Faces Backlash Over Absence at Champions Trophy 2025 Final Ceremony

Chairman Mohsin Naqvi did not travel to Dubai due to his official duties as Pakistan’s interior minister. He informed the ICC that he was occupied with a joint parliament session in Islamabad, where President Asif Zardari was set to address the nation.

Former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar expressed his confusion on social media over Pakistan’s absence on the presentation stage.

“India has won the ICC Champions Trophy today, but I noticed something unusual. Pakistan was the tournament host, yet no PCB representatives were present at the trophy presentation. This is beyond my understanding. Why was there no one from Pakistan to hand over the trophy? It’s a global event, but unfortunately, I didn’t see any PCB officials. Feeling very disheartened,” Akhtar said in a video posted on X.

Also Read:रोहित शर्मा ने रचा इतिहास, ऐसा करने वाले दुनिया के पहले कप्तान बने

Some former Pakistan cricketers believe PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi’s absence from the Champions Trophy final may send the wrong message to India. They worry it could be seen as a deliberate move to avoid the ceremony. India reached the final and went on to win the title, making his absence more noticeable.

The 2025 Champions Trophy held special significance for Pakistan, as it marked their first major home tournament in 29 years. However, their campaign ended in disappointment, with the team suffering an early exit in the group stage after defeats to New Zealand and India. This premature elimination further dampened the tournament’s significance for the host nation.

A report states that the International Cricket Council (ICC) selects the dignitaries for the podium during the trophy presentation. PCB’s chief operating officer, Sumair Ahmed, was in Dubai but was not invited on stage. This has sparked criticism and debate over Pakistan’s lack of representation at such a major tournament moment.

Also Read:IND vs NZ: रोहित शर्मा ने रचा इतिहास, विश्व क्रिकेट में ऐसा करने वाले पहले कप्तान बने