Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has expressed disappointment over the absence of a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) representative at the Champions Trophy 2025 presentation ceremony in Dubai, despite Pakistan being the official host of the tournament.
In a video message posted on X (formerly Twitter), Akhtar questioned why no PCB official was present at the ceremony, where India lifted the trophy after defeating New Zealand in the final on Sunday.
"India has won the ICC Champions Trophy. But one odd thing stood out—no one from the Pakistan Cricket Board was present during the presentation. Pakistan was the official host of the tournament, yet no representative was there to present the trophy. It is beyond me. The tournament was hosted by us, but there was nobody from Pakistan at the stage," Akhtar said.
The trophy was handed over to Indian captain Rohit Sharma by International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Jay Shah, while Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Roger Binny presented the white blazers to the winning team.
Other dignitaries on stage included former Australia captain Aaron Finch and BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia.
Notably, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi was absent from the ceremony, raising questions about the board’s role in the event. In contrast, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla attended the second semi-final in Lahore earlier this month, where South Africa faced New Zealand.
The hybrid model
Pakistan was unable to host the final of the Champions Trophy due to India’s qualification. Under the hybrid model agreed upon following India’s refusal to play in Pakistan, Lahore was set to host the final only if India did not reach it.
The Pakistan team, meanwhile, played only one match at home during the tournament, a group-stage fixture against New Zealand in Karachi, which they lost. Their much-anticipated match against India was played in Dubai, where they suffered a comprehensive defeat, while their final group game in Rawalpindi was washed out due to rain.
India remained unbeaten throughout the tournament and lifted the trophy in dominant fashion. Skipper Rohit Sharma played a match-winning knock of 76 in the final, helping his team chase down New Zealand’s target of 252. Spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy played key roles in restricting the Black Caps, ensuring that India secured the title convincingly.
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