The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken issue with the International Cricket Council (ICC) for disregarding their delegate at the Champions Trophy concluding ceremony in Dubai on Sunday.
India won the Champions Trophy by defeating New Zealand in the final, and BCCI president Roger Binny, secretary Devajit Saikia, and ICC chairman Jay Shah attended the ceremony. However, no one from the PCB was summoned at the prize-giving ceremony.
While PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told the ICC of his absence, Sumair Ahmed, chief operational officer, and tournament director, had flown to Dubai for the final. However, ICC ignored Ahmed and he was not invited to the podium citing protocols.
Amid the ongoing deadlock between the PCB and the ICC, a Pakistani expert claimed Sumair was disregarded during the ceremony because of the BCCI. However, he also asserted that the typical white blazers worn by Indian players will always bear Pakistan's name as hosts.
"It was a shocking thing. ICC decides who will come to the podium. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi had notified me he would not be present, but I felt he should have traveled to Dubai. Sumair Ahmed, COO, was present, but ICC did not honor him by calling him to the stage. In the entire tournament, India has tried to push back Pakistan - they did not want to wear a jersey with Pakistan's name, and they did not want to travel to Pakistan. But in the end, Pakistan won. That white jacket they wore, with Pakistan's name, will forever be written on it," the panelist said during a discussion on ARY News.
However, the anchor had a brilliant and hilarious response to the same. He stated that atleast India will remember Pakistan as ‘tailors’ as the white jackets they got to wear as champions were sewn in the country.
"Issi bahane Pakistan ko as darzi zarur yaad rakhenge (On this pretext, India will surely remember Pakistan as a tailor)," the anchor replied, leaving everyone in splits.
Here is the video:
The PCB has filed an official objection with the ICC regarding the absence of their delegate. When Geo News contacted the ICC, its spokeswoman stated that Naqvi was invited to the event but did not attend.
"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 ICC spokesperson told Geo News.
