The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has expressed dissatisfaction with the International Cricket Council (ICC) over the absence of PCB officials at the Champions Trophy 2025 final ceremony. The closing event, held after India’s triumph over New Zealand, saw the presence of BCCI president Roger Binny, New Zealand Cricket director Roger Twose, and ICC Chairman Jay Shah—but notably lacked any representative from Pakistan, the official host of the tournament.
PCB Rejects ICC’s Explanation
According to sources cited by NDTV, the ICC initially planned for PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi to be part of the ceremony. However, when he was unable to attend, no alternative PCB representative was invited on stage, a decision that has left the Pakistan board frustrated.
The PCB has reportedly dismissed the ICC’s justification, arguing that the governing body made multiple missteps in acknowledging Pakistan’s status as the host nation during the tournament.
ICC’s Response
In response to the controversy, an ICC spokesperson clarified that only the head of the host board—such as the chairman, president, vice president, or CEO—is invited to the presentation stage. Since Mohsin Naqvi was unavailable and the PCB did not send an eligible representative, Pakistan had no presence during the award distribution.
“Mr. Naqvi was unavailable and didn’t travel to Dubai for the final. The ICC only invites the head of the host board—such as the president, vice president, chairman, or CEO—to participate in the awards ceremony. Other board officials, regardless of their presence at the venue, are not part of the stage proceedings,” an ICC spokesperson told Geo.tv.
Despite this, the PCB remains dissatisfied and believes that the ICC’s handling of the situation was unjust and dismissive of Pakistan’s role as the tournament host.
The controversy has added to ongoing tensions between Pakistan and the ICC, especially concerning venue decisions, scheduling issues, and logistical concerns throughout the Champions Trophy 2025.
