Chairman Mohsin Naqvi Rejects ICC's Explanation for Excluding PCB CEO from Ceremony
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is preparing to lodge a formal protest with the International Cricket Council (ICC) after PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi expressed dissatisfaction with the ICC's explanation regarding the exclusion of PCB CEO and Champions Trophy Tournament Director, Sumair Ahmed Syed, from the closing ceremony of the 2025 Champions Trophy.
ICC IGNORED PCB CEO AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY
During the final match of the Champions Trophy between India and New Zealand, which took place at the Dubai International Stadium, Sumair Syed was sent as the PCB's representative in place of Naqvi, who was absent. However, despite his role, Syed was not acknowledged during the trophy presentation. While BCCI President Roger Binny presented white jackets to the Indian team and medals to match officials, ICC Chairman Jay Shah handed the trophy to Indian captain Rohit Sharma and awarded the medals to the winners. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia and New Zealand Cricket CEO Roger Twose were also present on stage, but Syed was notably absent from the proceedings.
ICC’S EXPLANATION DISPLEASES PCB
According to reports from PTI, PCB sources confirmed that Naqvi was not satisfied with the ICC’s reasoning for Syed's exclusion. The ICC had reportedly claimed that they had prepared for Naqvi’s presence on stage, and when he did not attend the final, they decided to alter their plans.
A source within the PCB stated, “The ICC explained that they had initially planned for Naqvi to be present on stage, so after his absence, they changed their arrangements.” However, this explanation has been rejected by the PCB, which maintains that the ICC made several other mistakes during the tournament.
ERRORS DURING THE CHAMPIONS TROPHY
The PCB has highlighted several missteps made by the ICC during the Champions Trophy. One notable error occurred when Pakistan's name was absent from the Champions Trophy logo during the live broadcast of the Invs vs Bangladesh match. Additionally, in the Australia vs. England game in Lahore, the Indian national anthem was mistakenly played, which the PCB deems a significant oversight.
The ICC later addressed these issues, claiming that the omission of Pakistan’s name from the logo was due to space constraints and that the anthem mix-up in Lahore was a result of a playlist error. Despite the apologies, the PCB remains dissatisfied with the handling of these issues.
NAQVI’S APPRECIATION FOR THE SUCCESSFUL EVENT
Amidst these controversies, Mohsin Naqvi took to social media to express his gratitude for the successful execution of the tournament. He thanked the PCB team, law enforcement agencies, provincial governments, ICC officials, and the visiting teams for their contributions to the tournament's success.
"Your collective efforts ensured the seamless execution of this prestigious event," Naqvi wrote. "Pakistan takes immense pride in hosting the Champions Trophy and showcasing it as a spectacle for cricket fans around the world."
CONCLUSION
The PCB's protest signals ongoing frustration with the ICC’s handling of the Champions Trophy, and with the exclusion of Sumair Syed from the closing ceremony, the board’s dissatisfaction is likely to escalate. The PCB’s stance underscores the importance of acknowledging their contribution to the event and ensuring fair representation in future tournaments.
