PCB raises issue after ICC sidelines official at Champions Trophy Awards

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially protested to the International Cricket Council (ICC) over the exclusion of its representative from the Champions Trophy prize distribution ceremony, held at Dubai International Stadium on March 9. PCB Chief Executive Sumair Ahmad Syed, who was also serving as the Tournament Director, was entirely overlooked during the ceremony.  According to the official protocol, the prize distribution stage is reserved for the ICC Chairman, heads of the boards of the two finalist teams, and the host country's board chairman. Since PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi was unable to attend due to illness, Syed was the official representative of the host nation. He had previously congratulated ICC Chairman Jay Shah ahead of the ceremony. However, he was ignored entirely, with the BCCI official being allowed to take his place. This incident sparked additional controversy as the UAE, which hosted five of the tournament’s matches, was also not represented on the stage. The ICC spokesperson justified the exclusion, stating that the host board head was invited to the ceremony but did not attend. According to their argument, only the head of the host board — such as the president, vice president, chairman, or CEO — is permitted on stage. Other officials, regardless of their presence, are excluded from the prize distribution proceedings. However, the PCB has rejected this explanation, pointing out that ICC CEO Geoff Allardice, who held the host tag, was seen distributing prizes earlier in the event. This, the PCB argues, proves that Syed’s exclusion was deliberate and unjustified. The PCB has also raised concerns about several other instances during the Champions Trophy that seem to undermine Pakistan's hosting rights. These include claims of India receiving preferential treatment, such as playing all their matches at the same venue and with pitches tailored to their advantage — privileges they would not enjoy at home. The PCB has formally escalated the issue, calling for a full investigation into the breach of protocol. This has led many to question the ICC's neutrality and governance, with suspicions that the Champions Trophy may not have been conducted fairly.

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