The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday addressed concerns regarding the absence of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final ceremony.
The clarification came after questions were raised over the lack of Pakistani representation on stage, despite Pakistan being the official host of the tournament.
A spokesperson for the ICC, while speaking to a private TV channel, confirmed that Mr Naqvi, who was the designated representative of the host board, was unavailable and did not attend the final in Dubai.
“The ICC only invites the head of the host board — such as the president, vice president, chairman, or CEO — to participate in the awards ceremony. Other board officials, regardless of their presence at the venue, are not part of the stage proceedings,” the spokesperson explained.
The ICC further clarified that these protocols have been consistently followed in all of its tournaments and were not specific to the Champions Trophy.
The final, which was originally scheduled to be held in Pakistan, was shifted to Dubai after the Indian government refused to send its team to play in Pakistan. While most of the tournament took place in Pakistan, the decision to relocate the final had already sparked discussions regarding the visibility of the host nation during key moments of the event.
