Dubai/Islamabad – The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has strongly objected to the International Cricket Council's (ICC) explanation regarding the exclusion of its CEO and Champions Trophy tournament director, Sumair Ahmed Syed, from the closing ceremony of the Champions Trophy 2025.
According to sources within the PCB, Chairman Mohsin Naqvi remains dissatisfied with the reasoning provided by the ICC, which stated that their initial plan included Naqvi's presence on stage. However, since he was absent from the final match, ICC officials reportedly revised their arrangements.
“The ICC, apparently, has said it had prepared for Mohsin Naqvi to be on stage, so when he didn’t show up for the final, they changed their plan,” a PCB insider revealed.
Pakistan Unhappy Over Repeated ICC Blunders
The PCB has categorically rejected this explanation, arguing that the ICC has committed multiple oversights regarding Pakistan’s status as the host nation during the tournament. Among the grievances raised by the PCB were:
- The removal of the Champions Trophy 2025 logo from live broadcast feeds during the India vs Bangladesh match.
- The accidental playing of the Indian national anthem before the start of the Australia vs England match in Lahore. The ICC later claimed this was due to a mix-up in the playlist and that the anthem was stopped within a few seconds.
ICC’s Award Presentation Raises Eyebrows
The controversy escalated when PCB officials were absent from the award ceremony, which saw the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) playing a central role.
During the presentation ceremony:
- BCCI President Roger Binny presented the white jackets to the Indian players.
- BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, also the ICC Chairman, handed the Champions Trophy to India’s captain Rohit Sharma and distributed the winners’ medals.
- BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia and New Zealand Cricket CEO Roger Twose were also on stage, further sidelining Pakistan officials.
Pakistan Expresses Pride in Hosting the Tournament
Despite the controversy, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi expressed gratitude towards his team, law enforcement agencies, provincial governments, ICC officials, and visiting teams for ensuring the smooth conduct of the tournament.
“Your commitment and collective efforts ensured the seamless execution of the prestigious tournament,” he posted on his social media handle.
Naqvi also emphasized Pakistan’s pride in successfully hosting the event and delivering a world-class cricketing spectacle for fans across the globe.
With tensions simmering over these repeated ICC missteps, the PCB is expected to officially lodge a protest with the governing body in the coming days. Whether this will prompt any policy changes or acknowledgments from the ICC remains to be seen.
