Follow UsThe Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have filed an official complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) after no representatives from Pakistan were present at the presentation ceremony after India defeated New Zealand in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, reported the Dawn. Pakistan were the official hosts but India played all their games in Dubai.
It even led to former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar expressing his displeasure over no PCB officials, questioning the ICC. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi didn’t travel to Dubai for the game but PCB's Chief Operating Officer Sumair Ahmed Syed was present at the venue. Despite being the director of the tournament, he wasn’t invited to the dais for presenting awards.
“A formal complaint has been lodged with the ICC, demanding an explanation and a public apology. We are appalled by this blatant disregard for Pakistan’s role as the host nation,” a PCB source told the aforementioned portal.
“The ICC’s decision to exclude Mr Syed — who was both the Tournament Director and the PCB Chair’s designated representative — violates its own standard operating procedure. This is a matter of principle, fairness, and respect for the game’s global stakeholders.”
Adding more, the source said: “The ICC’s repeated blunders, double standards and selective governance have cast serious doubts over its credibility. We have demanded a full public clarification and an assurance that such biased and unjust treatment will not happen again. The PCB expects professionalism, transparency, and equal representation from cricket’s governing body.
“The PCB has made its stance clear: This is not just about a presentation ceremony — it is about respect, integrity, and the fundamental principles of fair governance in international cricket. The world is watching. Will the ICC finally uphold professionalism, or will it continue to cater to selective interests at the cost of cricket’s global integrity?”
ICC, however, have already clarified why Sumair Ahmed Syed wasn’t invited to the stage. "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, even if present at the venue, are not part of the stage proceedings," said the ICC spokesperson.