The absence of PCB officials in the presentation ceremony of the recently held ICC Champions Trophy final stirred a controversy, with strong reactions coming out from the Pakistan cricket fraternity.
India defeated New Zealand by four wickets in the title clash to lift the coveted trophy at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday (March 9).
Although Pakistan were the designated hosts for the Champions Trophy, there was no one representing the PCB on stage in any capacity.
While legends like Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar expressed their disappointment over the same, former Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal thinks otherwise.
Akmal opined that Pakistan did not "deserve" to have a representative on podium, citing the team's poor performance and lack of respect on the international stage.
"The ICC showed us the mirror," Akmal said on his YouTube channel. "The tournament's director (Sumair) was there. He was available, and why wasn't he in the ceremony? It is because we don't deserve to be there. We are not playing good cricket. Minow teams have shown us the mirror."
He added, "No one discussed how Pakistan hosted the tournament. If we play such cricket, we will be treated like this. If you play for yourself, there will be no respect."
Earlier, news agency PTI reported the Pakistan board will lodge a formal complaint with the ICC for ignoring its CEO and Champions Trophy tournament director Sumair Ahmed Syed during the event’s closing ceremony.
However, ICC sources have reportedly dismissed the complaint, indicating that the PCB is unlikely to receive a formal explanation or apology. The ICC maintained that the protocol did not mandate the presence of the tournament director on stage.
An ICC source explained to PTI, "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?"
Jay Shah, the ICC chairman, handed the Champions Trophy to the victorious captain, Rohit Sharma. Roger Binny, the BCCI president, presented the champions’ white blazers. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and New Zealand Cricket’s CEO Roger Twose were among the other dignitaries on stage.
