Shoaib Akhtar disappointed over ‘odd’ trophy ceremony, says ‘no one from the Pakistan Cricket Board…’
GH News March 10, 2025 11:06 AM

New Delhi: Renowned fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar voiced his dissatisfaction regarding the lack of a Pakistani representative at the Champions Trophy presentation ceremony held on Sunday in Dubai. He emphasized that a member of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) should have attended to present the trophy to India who emerged victorious against New Zealand in a closely contested final.
In a video on X Shoaib Akhtar expressed his disappointment at the absence of a Pakistani representative during the significant event in Dubai even though Pakistan was the official host of the tournament.
The Champions Trophy was awarded to the victorious captain Rohit Sharma by Jay Shah the chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC). The traditional white blazers for the champions were presented by Roger Binny the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The ceremony also featured other notable figures including former Australia captain Aaron Finch and BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia.
India has won the ICC Champions Trophy. There was one odd thing: no one from the Pakistan Cricket Board during the presentation ceremony. Pakistan is the host of the Champions Trophy but there was no representative of Pakistan who was standing. No one was there to present the trophy. It is beyond me. Think about it. The tournament was hosted by us but there was nobody there. Feeling very down to see that Akhtar said.
It was unexpected that PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi was not present at the presentation ceremony. Interestingly BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla was in attendance at the second semi-final match between South Africa and New Zealand in Lahore on March 05.
Pakistan could not hold the Champions Trophy final as India made it to the final match. According to the hybrid model established after India declined to compete in Pakistan Lahore was designated to host the final only if India did not qualify.
The Pakistan cricket team participated in just one home match even though the tournament was significant as it was the first major ICC event hosted in the country in 29 years. They faced a defeat against New Zealand in Karachi and were subsequently soundly defeated by India in Dubai. Additionally their last Group A match in Rawalpindi was canceled due to rain last month.
India finished the tournament without a loss and secured the championship convincingly. In the final match Rohit Sharma played a key role by scoring 76 runs during Indias successful pursuit of 252 runs. Meanwhile spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav delivered a strong bowling performance preventing New Zealand from escaping the tight grip of spin bowling.