CT 2025 Final: Pakistan's Absence from the Podium Raises Questions

The 15-game Champions Trophy concluded at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, with India emerging victorious. However, the ceremony was marred by Pakistan's absence from the podium, with no representative from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) present.

Shoaib Akhtar expressed surprise and disappointment at the lack of PCB representation, stating, "I can't understand why no one was there to represent the country. It's beyond me to even think about."

The PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, did not attend the closing ceremony, and instead, the tournament director for the Pakistan leg, Sumair Ahmed, represented the board. However, it is understood that only elected members or directors of the board were allowed on the podium.

The presence of Jay Shah, ICC Chair, Roger Binny and Devajit Saikia, president and secretary of the BCCI, and Roger Twose, director of New Zealand Cricket, on the podium raised questions about the PCB's absence.