Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar question Pakistan’s absence at Champions Trophy final presentation: ‘It looked odd'

Pakistan cricket greats Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar were taken aback by the absence of a Pakistan official at the Champions Trophy 2025 presentation ceremony at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. The final was held in Dubai under a hybrid model despite Pakistan being the main hosts of the tournament. However, it was surprising to see that no Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official was part of the trophy ceremony that included multiple Indians.

ICC chairman Jay Shah was present on the podium alongside BCCI president Roger Binny and general secretary Devajit Saikia, but no PCB representative joined them on the podium to hand over the medal and trophies after India defeated New Zealand in the final .

A report in the news agency PTI says that PCB Chief Operating Officer (COO) Sumair Ahmad, who is also the director of the tournament, was not invited to the closing ceremony despite being present at the venue.

Wasim, Shoaib question missing Pak official from CT 2025 ceremony

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram questioned the absence of the PCB COO from the presentation ceremony, stating that it looked “odd” that there was no representative from the main hosts.

“From what I have learnt, the chairman wasn’t well, but the people from the PCB who were present in the final were Sumair Ahmad and Usman Wahla. These two guys were present, but neither of them was on the stage,” Akram said on the DP World Dressing Room show.

“The question now is that we were the hosts, weren’t we? How come even the COO of the Pakistan Cricket Board or whoever it may be who was representing that chairman was not on the stage? Was he not invited on the stage? I don’t know what the story is, but it definitely looked odd to me as well while sitting here. It was very important to have a Pakistani on the stage. Even if he didn’t present the cup for the medal, somebody should have been there.”

Shoaib Akhtar touched upon the same issue in a separate video on his X account and failed to explain why no PCB official was part of the Champions Trophy 2025 closing ceremony.

“India has won the ICC Champions Trophy today but I noticed something strange. Pakistan were the hosts in the tournament but there were no Pakistan Cricket Board representatives here (at the trophy presentation). This is beyond my understanding. Why was there no one to represent us and give the trophy? Please think about it, it’s a world stage but sadly I could not see any PCB members. Feeling very down to see that,” Akhtar in a video on X.

Reportedly, as per protocol, ICC has to decide who will be a part of the trophy presentation ceremony in a global tournament.