Shoaib Akhtar questions Pakistan officials’ absence

Former Pakistan fast bowler questioned the absence of any official from Pakistan at the presentation ceremony of the ICC Champions Trophy which India won defeating New Zealand

Dubai: Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar questioned the absence of any official from Pakistan at the presentation ceremony of the ICC Champions Trophy which India won defeating New Zealand by four wickets here on Sunday night.

“I do not understand it. Why was nobody there? This is the world stage,” Akhtar posted on his X account. “You (Pakistan) should have been here. Feeling very down to see that,” the great fast bowler of yesteryears who is also a very popular commentator even in the sub-Continent said.

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This is literally beyond my understanding.
How can this be done???#championstrophy2025 pic.twitter.com/CPIUgevFj9

— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) March 9, 2025

Akhtar’s comments were understandable given the fact that Pakistan hosted the Champions Trophy though it was forced to organise all matches featuring India, including the final in Dubai, as the BCCI refused to go to Pakistan and play any match.

“Sadly, I couldn’t see any Pakistani official here. Think about it,” he said. ICC chairman Jay Shah, BCCI president Roger Binny and New Zealand Cricket Director RogerTwose were there at the prize distribution function.

It is said that Sumair Ahmed, the PCB Chief Operations Officer and the Champions Trophy Director, was in Dubai but was missing. No official statement was issued in this regard.