The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has formally protested against the International Cricket Council (ICC) over 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 the stage during the prize distribution, a move the board has termed a “blatant disregard” for its hosting rights.

The PCB’s Chief Operating Officer, Sumair Ahmad Syed, who also served as 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 excluded from the official ceremony, while Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Devajit Saikia took the stage alongside ICC Chairman Jay Shah, BCCI President Roger Binny, and New Zealand Cricket’s chief.

“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,” a PCB spokesperson said.

The PCB has submitted a formal complaint, seeking a detailed explanation and a public apology from the ICC.

The board has also accused the cricketing body of “double standards”, pointing out that ICC CEO Geoff Allardice, who also held a host designation, was seen distributing prizes earlier in the tournament.

Protocol violation or deliberate exclusion?

As per ICC protocol, the head of the host board—such as the president, vice president, chairman, or CEO—is invited to participate in the prize distribution ceremony. However, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who was originally invited, was unwell and could not travel to Dubai.

Given that the PCB does not currently 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?” a PCB official questioned.

The controversy has further escalated after 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 latest incident is not the first time concerns have been raised about ICC’s handling of the Champions Trophy. The PCB has highlighted 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.
Favorable pitch conditions for India, with reports suggesting that surfaces were tailored to their preferences.
Pakistan’s name missing from the Champions Trophy official logo on the broadcast feed during a group-stage match.
The Indian national anthem being played at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium before an Australia-England fixture.

“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 stated.

ICC’s response and growing tensions

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

However, the PCB has rejected this justification, calling it weak and inconsistent. The board has now escalated the matter in writing, demanding a thorough investigation into what it views as an unjust exclusion.

With tensions running high, cricketing circles are questioning whether the Champions Trophy was truly an impartial event or if selective interests played a role in 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.