The Champions Trophy has now been concluded. India came out triumphant as they defeated New Zealand by 4 wickets (with 6 balls remaining). Part of the post-match presentation for the final should include a representitive from India; New Zealand and one from the host country. However, when the time came, there was no representive for the latter. This has caused confusion and anger.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has asked the ICC for an explanation after the Champions Trophy tournament director, Sumair Ahmed, was not included in the post-final presentation ceremony in Dubai on Sunday. Sumair, who is also the COO of the PCB, was in Dubai for the final in his capacity as tournament director and Pakistan's representative at the final. Pakistan were official hosts of the Champions Trophy.
As a result, the PCB was puzzled by the presence of Saikia, given that one BCCI official - Binny - was on stage anyway. It's the exclusion of the host representative that has most antagonised the board. Representatives of the host nation are generally part of trophy presentations. The PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, was originally meant to be part of the presentations but the PCB said he was unwell and unable to travel to Dubai. They expected Sumair to stand in as Pakistan's representative.
While it's understood the PCB didn't reach out to the ICC to inform it that Sumair would take Naqvi's place on the podium, the Pakistan board believes the onus was on the ICC to contact it about Naqvi's replacement. The PCB is aggrieved no ICC representative reached out to the board at any stage during the final to discuss plans for a Pakistani presence on the podium post-match.
Former Pakistan fast bowlers, Shoaib Akhtar and Wasim Akram, also questioned the absence of PCB officials from the post-match presentation ceremony after the final of the tournament.
Contrary to initial reports that suggested PCB's absence, a source confirmed to news agency, PTI, that PCB's CEO, Sumair Ahmed, was present at the Dubai International Stadium, acting as the tournament director and representing PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi.
"PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi didn't go to Dubai because of prior commitments as federal minister for interior but the PCB CEO was sent to represent Pakistan at the final and closing presentation," the source was quoted as saying by PTI.
However, the source also revealed that, for some reason or misunderstanding, the PCB official was not called to the podium, from where ICC chairman Jay Shah, BCCI president, Roger Binny and secretary, Devajit Saikia, gave away the medals, trophies, and jackets to the players.
The source added that perhaps the CEO might not have been able to communicate properly to the ICC people responsible for organising the final ceremony and was left out.
Noted Pakistan journalist, Saj Sadiq, concured with the PTI report and wrote on X: "Reports state the ICC did not invite any Pakistan Cricket Board official on stage for the closing ceremony of the Champions Trophy in Dubai. PCB's chief executive officer Sumair Ahmed, who was also the director of the tournament was present at the venue but was not invited for the ceremony."
Hence, Pakistan, as hosts of the Champions Trophy, didn't have any representative on the podium. Meanwhile, former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar also questioned the absence of PCB officials from the post-match presentation ceremony after the final of the tournament.
"India has won the Champions Trophy but I noticed there was no representative from the PCB after the final. Pakistan was hosting the Champions Trophy. I do not understand it," Akhtar said in a video posted on X.
"Why was nobody (from PCB) there to present the trophy? It is beyond me. It is something to think about. This is the world stage, you should have been here. Feeling very down to see that," Akhtar added.
Former Pakistan legend, Wasim Akram, was also baffled. "As far as I know, Chairman Saab (PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi) wasn't well but the people that came from there (PCB) were Sumair Ahmad Syed (Chief Operating Officer of PCB) and Usman Wahla (Director of International for PCB) but no one was there on the stage," he said while speaking on the Dressing Room show after the event.
"We were the host, weren't we right? How come even the COO of PCB or whoever it may be who was representing Chairman Saab, why weren't they on stage? Were they not invited? I don't know what is the story. It definitely looked odd to me while sitting here. Pakistani, koi na koi stage par khada hona bahot jaruri tha. Chahe wo cup na de, chahe wo medal na de but somebody should've been there. (It was imperative that Pakistan should have had representation in any form.)," Akram concluded.
Off the field, though, the PCB is assured of getting a hefty sum as hosting fees, along with a cut of the on-ground sponsorship and ticket revenue; there are some very big areas of concern. They reportedly spent around PKR 12.8 billion on stadium renovation, along with other expenses and then witnessed venues that were not packed to the rafters, with multiple stands remaining vacant.
Not getting to host all matches in Pakistan, including the final, would have hurt too. At the end of the day, this was, realistically, the only way a successful tournament could be held. Pakistan's ultimate fate in the tournament was also, in many ways, a reflection of the overall fate of the two countries.
In the almost 78 years since independence, India has established itself as an Asian superpower and a global player; while Pakistan is still riddled with internal conflict with a reported external debt of over $130 billion. Ironically, the ODI cricket field is one platform where Pakistan are still ahead of India, having dominated head-to-head proceedings in the 1980s and '90s but there's no denying the fact that the scales have tilted; in this millennium, almost completely in India's way.
The two teams played bilateral ODI cricket last in 2012-13, when Pakistan travelled to India and lost a three-match series 2-1. Now, they only clash in the Asia Cup and ICC events. Though Pakistan did beat India by a huge margin of 180 runs in the 2017 Champions Trophy final, India have been the stand-out team in recent times; winning 13 of 17 ODIs against the men in green since 2010.
In the '80s and '90s, many of Pakistan's big wins against India in this format were registered in the UAE and in Sharjah, specifically. In fact, going into their clash this time in the Champions Trophy in Dubai, Pakistan boasted a head-to-head record of 19 wins in 28 ODIs against India in the UAE and also a T20I win at the same venue in the 2021 T20 World Cup. The result, with India winning more than comfortably by 6 wickets (with 45 balls remaining), highlighted just how big the gulf is between these two countries are, on the cricket field too.
Indian great, Sunil Gavaskar, went on record to say that Pakistan would struggle against even a second-string Indian team. Former Pakistan cricketer and one of the best all-rounders in limited overs cricket history, Shahid Afridi, summed up the difference between the two sides when he told the host broadcasters that India just has more match-winners than Pakistan, going on to add, "A match-winner is someone who knows how to win the game single-handedly. Right now, we don't have such players in Pakistan."
To me, the problem is quite clear. There was a breakdown in communication between the PCB and ICC. It's a bit harsh to point the finger at each other. It's important to know that communication is a two way street. To ensure efficiency, there should be a clear communication line.
Communication in the professional sector is a serious issue. It can't be done like kids who use walkie talkies to transmit messages. A whole business or operation can breakdown and lead to it being shutdown. Communication shouldn't be a case of talking to a wall. It's a two man/woman activity.
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