The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) filed an official complaint with the ICC on Tuesday after a controversy emerged when Sumair Ahmed, the PCB's chief operations officer and Champions Trophy tournament director, was snubbed during the trophy presentation ceremony at the end of the final on Sunday.
However, the apex body is unlikely to issue any 'formal explanation' to the PCB.
India defeated New Zealand by four wickets in the final in Dubai on Sunday, winning the Champions Trophy for the third time in history. With PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi not present at the location for the match, Sumair was present in his stead as a representative of the Pakistani board.
However, ICC ignored his presence and did not summon him to the platform during the trophy presentation ceremony.
BCCI president Roger Binny handed out white jackets to Indian players and medals to match officials, while ICC chairman Jay Shah handed over the trophy to skipper Rohit Sharma and awarded medals to winners.
Devajit Saikia, the BCCI secretary, and Roger Twose, the CEO of New Zealand Cricket, were also on stage to award medals to their respective countries' players.
"We have filed a formal complaint with the ICC as what happened is unacceptable to us," a PCB official told PTI on Tuesday.
Despite the PCB's objection, the report included ICC sources indicating that Pakistan will not receive a formal explanation. According to the sources, the tournament protocol required the ICC to exclude Sumair from the ceremony.
"If the PCB mandarins look up, even ICC CEO Geoff Allardice wasn't present on stage. The reason is protocol. Sumair Ahmed is an employee of the PCB and not an office-bearer. Also please check when has a tournament director been on stage for presentation?
We can give an example. ICC's new head of operations and communications Gaurav Saxena was once Tournament Director for Asia Cup in Dubai. Was he on stage for final presentation," the source told PTI.
PCB, however, deemed the response "illogical," as they stuck to their demand for a "full public clarification" against the "unjust treatment" from ICC.
"The reasons being given for not having our COO and tournament director on stage for the final presentation make no sense to us. We are waiting for a formal clarification/apology. We are appalled by this blatant disregard for Pakistan's role as the host nation.
Giving explanations that ICC only invites CEOs, chairmen, vice-chairmen or secretaries for the ceremony is illogical. We want a full public clarification and an assurance that such biased and unjust treatment will not happen again or we will push this matter to the Board of governors," PCB official stated.
Pakistan was the host of the Champions Trophy, but India played all of its matches and the final in Dubai.
