Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi was not available during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final between India and New Zealand at Dubai International Stadium in Dubai. A controversy erupted after India's Champions Trophy triumph over the failure of the ICC to invite a PCB official on stage for the closing ceremony of the mega event.
As per PTI sources, PCB's chief executive officer Sumair Ahmed, who is also the director of the tournament, was present at the venue but was not invited for the ceremony.
On the other hand, Mohsin Naqvi didn't go to Dubai because of prior commitments as the federal minister for interior.
"PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi didn't go to Dubai because of prior commitments as federal minister for interior but the PCB CEO was sent to represent Pakistan at the final and closing presentation," the PTI source said.
PTI source further added that for some reason or misunderstanding, the PCB official was not called on the podium, from where ICC chairman Jay Shah, BCCI president Roger Binny and secretary Devajit Saikia gave away the medals, trophies, and jackets to the players.
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Despite the Champions Trophy 2025 hosts, there was no PCB representative on the podium after India's win. The PCB is expected to take up the matter with the ICC as to why its CEO was not invited on stage for the closing ceremony.
Meanwhile, former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar also questioned the absence of PCB officials from the post-match presentation ceremony after the final of the tournament.
"India has won the Champions Trophy but I noticed there was no representative from the PCB after the final. Pakistan was hosting the Champions Trophy. I do not understand it," Akhtar said in a video posted on social 'X'.
"Why was nobody (from PCB) there to present the trophy? It is beyond me. It is something to think about. This is the world stage, you should have been here. Feeling very down to see that," Akhtar added.
BCCI president Roger Binny gave white jackets to India and the medals to match officials, while ICC chairman Shah handed the trophy to Rohit Sharma and gave the medals to the Indian players.