Indian cricket team celebrates after Champions Trophy 2025 victory© AFP
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is unlikely to receive any “formal clarification” from the ICC on the perceived snub during the closing ceremony of the Champions Trophy in Dubai. India beat New Zealand by four wickets in the title clash on Sunday to win the tournament for the third time. The controversy erupted when Sumair Ahmed, who is chief operating officer of the PCB and was the tournament director of the Champions Trophy, was not invited on stage for the final presentation. “We have filed a formal complaint with the ICC as what happened is unacceptable to us,” a PCB official said on Tuesday.
However according to ICC sources, the PCB won’t be given any formal explanation. “If the PCB mandarins look up, even ICC CEO Geoff Allardice wasn’t present on stage. The reason is protocol,” said the ICC source.
“Sumair Ahmed is an employee of the PCB and not an office-bearer. Also please check when has a tournament director been on stage for presentation? “We can give an example. ICC’s new head of operations and communications Gaurav Saxena was once Tournament Director for Asia Cup in Dubai. Was he on stage for final presentation,” an ICC source said.
BCCI president Roger Binny presented the white jackets to India players and the medals to match officials, while ICC chairman Jay Shah handed the trophy to skipper Rohit Sharma and gave the medals to the winners.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and New Zealand Cricket’s CEO Roger Twose were also present on stage. It must be mentioned that Saikia is BCCI Director on ICC board and Binny is the Alternate Director.
“The reasons being given for not having our COO and tournament director on stage for the final presentation make no sense to us. We are waiting for a formal clarification/apology,” the PCB official said.
“We are appalled by this blatant disregard for Pakistan’s role as the host nation,” the official said.
“Giving explanations that ICC only invites CEOs, chairmen, vice-chairmen or secretaries for the ceremony is illogical. We want a full public clarification and an assurance that such biased and unjust treatment will not happen again or we will push this matter to the Board of governors,” he added.
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