Champions Trophy: PCB Files Complaint with ICC Over Prize Ceremony Oversight

Synopsis

The Pakistan Cricket Board has lodged a formal complaint with the ICC after facing criticism for its representative's absence from the prize ceremony at the Champions Trophy final in Dubai. PCB officials highlighted various errors by the ICC during the event, asserting their representative should have been included.

Key Takeaways

PCB protested against ICC for exclusion from ceremony.
Mohsin Naqvi was busy with parliament session.
Sumair Ahmed attended but was not allowed on podium.
ICC protocols questioned by PCB officials.
Multiple mistakes by ICC noted in formal complaint.

Mumbai, March 10 (NationPress) Facing criticism for the absence of its representative on the podium during the prize distribution ceremony following the Champions Trophy final, the Pakistan Cricket Board has formally lodged a complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding the exclusion of its representative at Sunday’s event in Dubai.

Senior officials from the PCB stated that they have sent a strongly worded letter to the ICC management questioning the decision to omit their representative, who was present in the stadium, from the podium during the ceremony, as reported by Telecom Asia Sport (www.telecomasia.net) on Monday.

As the official host of the Champions Trophy, Pakistan held the tournament in a hybrid format, with Rohit Sharma’s team playing its matches in Dubai after the Indian government prohibited travel to the neighboring nation.

According to officials, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi informed the ICC that he would not be present at the final due to commitments in the country’s joint parliament session on Monday, where he also serves as the interior minister.

In Naqvi's absence, Sumair Ahmed, the PCB Chief Operating Officer, attended the final, but according to ICC protocols, he was deemed ineligible to participate in the ceremony, a position that the PCB disputes.

"The PCB has officially protested to the ICC regarding the exclusion of PCB COO and CT25 tournament director Sumair Ahmed Syed from the presentation ceremony that took place yesterday," sources close to the board shared with Telecom Asia Sport on Monday.

ICC protocols stipulate that the ICC head distributes prizes and trophies while the host nation is represented on the podium. The podium included New Zealand Cricket (NZC) Director Roger Twose, BCCI President Roger Binny, and BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia, as ICC Chair Jay Shah presented the trophy to Rohit Sharma after India’s victory against New Zealand in the final.

PCB asserts that if Saikia and Twose could be invited to the podium despite not heading their respective boards, then Ahmed should similarly have been included, the report noted.

Insiders revealed that in its letter, the PCB highlighted several mistakes made by the ICC during the event.

"The ICC made multiple errors during the event, including altering the CT25 logo on the broadcast feed during India’s match against Bangladesh and playing the Indian anthem during the Australia versus England match in Lahore," an official stated.

"Another ICC event, another controversy. Pakistan's name was removed from a broadcast graphic, anthems were mixed up at a key match, and the host board was overlooked at its own event. When will accountability begin?" commented an official close to the PCB management.

The PCB leadership has faced intense backlash for the oversight, as former cricketers view it as a disrespect to the country during an event they hosted.