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Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram was baffled by the absence of any Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official at the presentation ceremony after India won the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final on March 9. Pakistan were hosts of the marquee event while India's matches took places in Dubai due to politicial tensions between the two nations.
Akram revealed that Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi was unwell but other officials present at the venue to witness India's four-wicket win over New Zealand should have been there at the presentation ceremony.
"From what I have learnt, the chairman wasn't well, but the people from the PCB who were present in the final were Sumair Ahmad and Usman Wahla. These two guys were present, but neither of them was on the stage," Akram said on Sports Central's 'Dressing Room' show.
"The question now is that we were the hosts, weren't we? How come even the CEO of the Pakistan Cricket Board or whoever it may be who was representing that chairman was not on the stage? Was he not invited on the stage? I don't know what the story is, but it definitely looked odd to me as well while sitting here. It was very important to have a Pakistani on the stage. Even if he didn't present the cup for the medal, somebody should have been there."
Earlier, Pakistan were knocked out of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The Mohammad Rizwan-led Pakistan was placed in the group A including finalists India and New Zealand alongside Bangladesh. They lost to New Zealand in the Champions Trophy 2025 opener and then went to Dubai to face India where they could not put up a fight. Then, their dead rubber match against Bangladesh was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to rain. Pakistan bowed out of the tournament without a win against their name as their dismal show at ICC events continued since making it to the T20 World Cup final in the 2022 edition.
