PCB lodges 'complaint' with ICC for sidelining it at Champions Trophy presentation ceremony

The absence of a representative from the host nation's cricket federation, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), at the presentation ceremony after the Champions Trophy final in Dubai on March 9 hasn't gone down well with the PCB, following which the board has lodged an official complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC), according to a report in Pakistan daily 'Dawn'.
PCB's Chief Operating Officer, Sumair Ahmed Syed, attended the final between India and New Zealand but wasn't invited to the dais as part of the dignitaries presenting the awards. Syed is also the director of the tournament.
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The Dawn reports that the PCB has officially complained about it.
“A formal complaint has been lodged with the ICC, demanding an explanation and a public apology,” the board’s spokesperson was quoted as saying in the report. “We are appalled by this blatant disregard for Pakistan’s role as the host nation.
“The ICC’s decision to exclude Mr Syed — who was both the Tournament Director and the PCB Chair’s designated representative — violates its own standard operating procedure. This is a matter of principle, fairness, and respect for the game’s global stakeholders.”
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PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, was officially invited for the ceremony but couldn't travel to Dubai as he was unwell.
ICC, meanwhile, has clarified why Syed wasn't asked to join the rest of the dignitaries on stage.
"The ICC only invites the head of the host board such as the president, vice-president, chairman, or CEO to participate in the awards ceremony. Other board officials, even if present at the venue, are not part of the stage proceedings," said the ICC spokesperson.
But the PCB argues the incident as "repeated blunders".

“The ICC’s repeated blunders, double standards and selective governance have cast serious doubts over its credibility,” the PCB spokesperson was quoted further. “By sidelining the host nation at its own tournament, the governing body has once again shown a troubling lack of neutrality and fairness.
“We have demanded a full public clarification and an assurance that such biased and unjust treatment will not happen again. The PCB expects professionalism, transparency, and equal representation from cricket’s governing body.
“The PCB has made its stance clear: This is not just about a presentation ceremony — it is about respect, integrity, and the fundamental principles of fair governance in international cricket. The world is watching. Will the ICC finally uphold professionalism, or will it continue to cater to selective interests at the cost of cricket’s global integrity?”