ICC Clarifies Absence of PCB Officials at Champions Trophy 2025 Final Ceremony
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has addressed concerns over the absence of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final ceremony in Dubai.
This clarification follows inquiries by Opn Sports News, seeking ICC’s stance on the matter.
Why Was No PCB Official Present at the Ceremony?
An ICC spokesperson confirmed that Mohsin Naqvi, Chairman of the PCB Management Committee and the designated representative of the host board, was invited but did not attend.
“Mr. Naqvi was unavailable and did not travel to Dubai for the final,” the spokesperson stated.
ICC’s Official Ceremony Protocol
Amid criticism regarding the lack of Pakistani representation on stage, the ICC reaffirmed its standard protocol for awards ceremonies.
“Only the head of the host board—such as the president, vice president, chairman, or CEO—is invited to the awards ceremony. Other board officials, even if present, do not participate on stage,” the ICC clarified.
This long-standing protocol applies to all ICC tournaments, including the Champions Trophy. The absence of a PCB official was simply due to the non-attendance of the designated representative.
PCB to Raise the Issue with ICC
Sources indicate that the PCB plans to formally raise the issue with the ICC, questioning why its CEO, Sameer Ahmed Syed, was not invited despite being in Dubai as the tournament director.
“It is concerning that Pakistan was not given representation at the closing ceremony despite the presence of a key PCB official,” a source revealed.
Champions Trophy 2025 Venue Shift
The Champions Trophy final was hosted in Dubai after India’s matches were relocated from Pakistan. This change occurred due to the Indian government’s refusal to allow its team to travel to Pakistan.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
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