Shoaib Akhtar questions PCB’s absence from Champions Trophy award ceremony following India’s win

Islamabad: Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar raised concerns over the absence of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) representatives during the trophy presentation of the Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai.

Expressing his disappointment, Akhtar questioned why no PCB official was present to hand over the trophy, despite Pakistan being the designated host nation for the tournament.

Notably, Pakistan was the host country for this year’s Champions Trophy. However, India refused to go to Pakistan, citing ‘security concerns’ following which the ‘Men in Blue’ played all their games in Dubai.

As India also headed into the knockouts while Pakistan was eliminated in the group stage, the first semi-final and final were subsequently played in Dubai.

“India has won the ICC Champions Trophy ... I saw a strange thing, that no representative from the PCB was there. It is my question — why was there nobody from PCB to present or give the trophy? Pakistan was the host nation, but there was nobody there. Think about it, feeling very down to see that,” Akhtar remarked in the video posted on X.

India lifted their third ICC Champions Trophy title with a commanding four-wicket win over New Zealand in the final at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.