Although Pakistan is the tournament’s official host country, there was an unexpected controversy when no representatives from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) attended the final game or the post-match presentation ceremony after India defeated New Zealand in an exciting final game to win the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Cricket players, especially former Pakistan bowler Shoaib Akhtar, took issue with the PCB administrators’ perceived lack of presence.
“ICC Champions Trophy Hindustan ne jeet gayi hai, ek ajeeb se cheez mene dekhi hai ki Pakistan Cricket Board ka koi numaynda yaha khada nahi tha,” said Akhtar on Twitter in a video. India is the host of the Champions Trophy, and Pakistan is the country that is most likely to win.
It’s beyond my scope, so please consider it. Ye baat meri samjh se bahar hai, koi represent karne kyu nahi aaya trophy aur dene yahan par kyu nahi aaya. The world stage is a great place to be, but I was disappointed to see no members of the Pakistan Cricket Board present. We hosted you, but no one showed up. Do you think about that? It makes me sad.
Watch the video:
This is literally beyond my understanding.
How can this be done???#championstrophy2025 pic.twitter.com/CPIUgevFj9— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) March 9, 2025
I thought it looked strange: Wasim Akram
Wasim Akram, a former pacer for Pakistan, too questioned the situation, saying he fails to see why not even one delegate from the host country should participate in the formalities.
As far as I’m aware, Chairman Saab (PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi) wasn’t feeling well, but Sumair Ahmad Syed (PCB’s Chief Operating Officer) and Usman Wahla (PCB’s Director of International) came from there, but nobody was on stage,” Akram stated on the Dressing Room show following the event.
“Aren’t we the hosts? Why didn’t the PCB’s COO or whoever was standing in for Chairman Saab have a stage presence? Were they not invited? I’m not sure what the story is.
Sitting here, I thought it looked strange. Koi na koi stage par khada hona tha, Pakistani. It’s a cup and a medal, but someone ought to have been present. Akram continued, “It was essential that Pakistan be represented in any way.”
India
