The Champions Trophy might be over, but the drama is just getting started. India took home the win in Dubai, but here’s the kicker—Pakistan was still the official host, yet no Pakistani official handed out the trophy. Instead, it was ICC President Jay Shah and BCCI’s Roger Binny taking center stage.
Shoaib Akhtar? He’s still scratching his head, calling it “beyond his understanding.”
“India has won the ICC Champions Trophy today but I noticed something strange. Pakistan were the hosts in the tournament but there were no Pakistan Cricket Board representatives here (at the trophy presentation). This is beyond my understanding. Why was there no one to represent us and give the trophy? Please think about it, it's a world stage but sadly I could not see any PCB members. Feeling very down to see that,” said Akhtar in a video posted on X.
The excuse? According to reports, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi couldn't travel to Dubai because of official duties—but hold up, Sumair Ahmed, PCB’s chief operations officer and event director, was right there in Dubai but was not given a podium invitation. Talk about a presentation with more plot twists than the match!
Pakistan, that was hosting a tournament at home after 29 years, was left embarrassed when their team couldn't even win a single match and was knocked out of the group stage with just 1 point, that too from an abandoned match.
Though they were the hosts but India refused to travel to Pakistan due to security concerns and eventually played all their matches in Dubai. Had the Men in Blue not reached the semis and the final, both those games would have moved back to Pakistan but India had other plans. Rohit Sharma's men not only reached the semi-final but won it, hence leaving no scope of a final in Pakistan.
