ICC shuts down PCB over Champions Trophy ceremony protest with a sharp response

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has complained to the ICC during the Champions Trophy final on Sunday. Sumair Ahmed, who is the PCB’s chief operating officer and also the tournament director, was left out of the trophy presentation ceremony, which upset the board. It looks like the ICC won’t be giving any clear explanation about why this happened.

India won the Champions Trophy for a record third time after defeating New Zealand by four wickets in the final held in Dubai on Sunday. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi was not present at the match, so Sumair represented the Pakistan Cricket Board. However, the ICC did not invite him to the stage for the trophy presentation.

BCCI president Roger Binny handed the white jackets to the Indian players and gave medals to the match officials. ICC chairman Jay Shah presented the trophy to Indian captain Rohit Sharma and handed medals to the winning team. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and New Zealand Cricket's CEO Roger Twose were also present on stage. Saikia represents BCCI on the ICC board as a director, while Binny serves as the alternate director.

"We have filed a formal complaint with the ICC as what happened is unacceptable to us," a PCB official told PTI on Tuesday.

PCB gets a response from ICC

Even though the PCB complained, ICC sources have confirmed that Pakistan won’t receive any official explanation. The sources pointed out that the tournament rules left the ICC with no option but to leave Sumair out of the ceremony.

"If the PCB mandarins look up, even ICC CEO Geoff Allardice wasn't present on stage. The reason is protocol, Sumair Ahmed is an employee of the PCB and not an office-bearer. Also please check when has a tournament director been on stage for presentation," said the ICC source.

"We can give an example. ICC's new head of operations and communications Gaurav Saxena was once Tournament Director for Asia Cup in Dubai. Was he on stage for final presentation," the source added.

The PCB called the response "illogical" and insisted on a "full public clarification" regarding the "unfair treatment" they received from the ICC.

"The reasons being given for not having our COO and tournament director on stage for the final presentation make no sense to us. We are waiting for a formal clarification/apology. We are appalled by this blatant disregard for Pakistan's role as the host nation," the PCB official said, "Giving explanations that ICC only invites CEOs, chairmen, vice-chairmen or secretaries for the ceremony is illogical. We want a full public clarification and an assurance that such biased and unjust treatment will not happen again or we will push this matter to the Board of governors," he added.

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