"PCB Protests ICC's Exclusion of Its Representative from Champions Trophy Final Ceremony"

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has formally protested against the International Cricket Council (ICC) for not including its representative in the closing ceremony of the Champions Trophy final.

According to reports, PCB's Chief Operating Officer Samir Ahmed Syed, who was also the tournament director, was present at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium during the decisive match between India and New Zealand on Sunday. However, he was not included among the distinguished guests at the ceremony.

The PCB has termed this action by the ICC as a blatant violation of Pakistan's role as the host country.

A PCB spokesperson told Dawn that a formal complaint has been lodged with the ICC, seeking clarification and demanding a public apology.

He stated, "We are surprised at the disregard for Pakistan's role as the host country."

An ICC statement clarified that the decision to exclude Samir Ahmed Syed, who was the designated representative of the PCB Chairman, from the ceremony was in violation of its own standard operating procedures.

It stated that this is a matter of principles, transparency, and respect for global stakeholders in the game.

Samir Ahmed Syed had attended the final in place of PCB Chairman, Najam Sethi, who had initially been invited by the ICC but could not travel due to illness.

The ICC responded to media queries, explaining that its protocol requires the board's president, vice president, chairman, or CEO to be on stage. However, it seems that the ICC overlooked the fact that PCB did not have a CEO, and the COO is ranked second after the chairman.

The ICC’s reasoning seems weak as well, as the Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Devajit Sekia, was also on stage alongside his predecessor and current ICC President, Jay Shah, and BCCI President Roger Binny.

The PCB considers this incident as one of the ICC's "repeated mistakes," which also includes the omission of Pakistan’s name from the official Champions Trophy logo during the live feed of the India vs. Bangladesh group-stage match and the playing of the Indian national anthem before the Australia vs. England match at the Gaddafi Stadium.

A PCB spokesperson stated that the ICC's repeated mistakes, double standards, and selective governance have raised serious doubts about its credibility.

He added, "By sidelining the host country in its own tournament, the governing body has once again demonstrated a lack of neutrality and transparency."

"We have demanded a full public explanation and assurance that such biased and unfair behavior will not occur again."

The PCB expects professionalism, transparency, and equal representation from the cricket governing body.

The PCB made it clear that this issue is not just about the presentation ceremony, but about the fundamental principles of respect, integrity, and fair governance in international cricket.

He concluded, "The world is watching. Will the ICC finally uphold professionalism, or will it continue to serve selected interests at the cost of global cricket's integrity?"

After the Indian government refused to allow its team to cross the border due to security concerns, India played all its matches in Dubai. This forced the host Pakistan to compromise on the semi-final and final.

As a result of this decision, scheduling issues arose, and India was also given special privileges, allowing it to maintain a base while other teams had to adjust their travel schedules accordingly.