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Indian cricket crew celebrates after Champions Trophy 2025 victory© AFP
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is unlikely to obtain any “formal clarification” from the ICC on the perceived snub in the course of the closing ceremony of the Champions Trophy in Dubai. India beat New Zealand by 4 wickets within the title conflict on Sunday to win the match for the third time. The controversy erupted when Sumair Ahmed, who’s chief working officer of the PCB and was the match director of the Champions Trophy, was not invited on stage for the ultimate presentation. “We have filed a formal complaint with the ICC as what happened is unacceptable to us,” a PCB official stated on Tuesday.
Nevertheless in accordance with ICC sources, the PCB will not be given any formal rationalization. “If the PCB mandarins look up, even ICC CEO Geoff Allardice wasn’t present on stage. The reason is protocol,” stated the ICC supply.
“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 provide an instance. ICC’s new head of operations and communications Gaurav Saxena was as soon as Event Director for Asia Cup in Dubai. Was he on stage for closing 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 explanations being given for not having our COO and match director on stage for the ultimate presentation make no sense to us. We’re ready for a proper clarification/apology,” the PCB official said.
“We’re appalled by this blatant disregard for Pakistan’s position because the host nation,” the official said.
“Giving explanations that ICC solely invitations CEOs, chairmen, vice-chairmen or secretaries for the ceremony is illogical. We would like a full public clarification and an assurance that such biased and unjust remedy is not going to occur once more or we’ll push this matter to the Board of governors,” he added.
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