PCB Protests ICC’s Exclusion of Its Representative from Champions Trophy 2025 Ceremony

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has formally lodged a protest with the International Cricket Council (ICC) following the absence of its representative during the post-match ceremony of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final in Dubai.

Despite Pakistan being the official host of the tournament, no PCB official was present on stage during the prize distribution ceremony. This exclusion has been described by the board as a “blatant disregard” for Pakistan’s hosting rights.

Sumair Ahmad Syed, PCB’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) and the Tournament Director, was present at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium during the final between India and New Zealand on March 9. However, he was not invited to the stage, while Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Devajit Saikia joined ICC Chairman Jay Shah, BCCI President Roger Binny, and New Zealand Cricket’s chief during the prize-giving.

A PCB spokesperson expressed disappointment, stating, “The ICC’s decision to exclude Pakistan’s representative, despite his official capacity as Tournament Director, is unjustifiable and raises serious concerns about fairness in global cricket governance.”

The PCB has submitted a formal complaint to the ICC, demanding a detailed explanation and a public apology. The board has also accused the ICC of “double standards,” citing the fact that ICC CEO Geoff Allardice, who also held a host designation, had distributed prizes earlier in the tournament.

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Protocol Violation or Deliberate Exclusion?

Under ICC protocol, the head of the host board—whether the president, vice president, chairman, or CEO—is invited to participate in the prize distribution ceremony. Although PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi was originally invited, he could not attend due to illness. Since the PCB currently does not have a CEO, the board maintains that COO Sumair Ahmad Syed was its rightful representative.

“If the ICC follows a strict protocol, then why was the BCCI secretary on stage, despite not being designated for the role?” questioned a PCB official.

The controversy deepened further when reports suggested that officials from the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), despite the UAE hosting five matches of the tournament, were also excluded from the ceremony.

Pattern of Bias?

This incident is not the first time concerns have been raised about the ICC’s handling of the Champions Trophy. The PCB has pointed out several instances where it believes Pakistan’s role as the host was undermined, including:

• India playing all its matches in Dubai, while other teams, including Pakistan, had to adjust to different venues.
• Pitch conditions reportedly tailored to suit India’s preferences.
• Pakistan’s name missing from the official Champions Trophy logo during a group-stage broadcast.
• The Indian national anthem being played before an Australia-England fixture at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.

“The ICC’s repeated missteps and selective governance raise fundamental concerns about its neutrality. By sidelining Pakistan at its own tournament, it has sent a troubling message to the cricketing world,” the PCB spokesperson said.

ICC’s Response and Growing Tensions

An ICC spokesperson, when approached by a private TV channel, defended the decision, stating that only the chairman of the host board is invited to the stage, adding that “other officials, regardless of their presence at the venue, do not participate in the awards ceremony.”

The PCB, however, rejected this justification, calling it weak and inconsistent. The board has escalated the issue in writing, demanding a thorough investigation into what it deems an unjust exclusion.

As tensions escalate, the cricketing world is left questioning whether the Champions Trophy was truly an impartial event or whether selective interests influenced key decisions.

“The world is watching. Will the ICC uphold professionalism, or will it continue catering to selective interests at the cost of cricket’s global integrity?” the PCB statement concluded.