HERE'S WHY PAKISTAN CRICKET BOARD WAS ABSENT FROM THE AWARD CEREMONY OF CHAMPIONS TROPHY 2025 FINAL

Pakistan Cricket Board was noticeably absent from the award ceremony of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final.

India clinched their third Champions Trophy title by defeating New Zealand in the summit clash.

In a surprising turn of events, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was noticeably absent from the award ceremony of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final held in Dubai. Despite being the official hosts of the tournament, no PCB representative was present on stage during the presentation, sparking controversy and criticism from the cricket community.

No PCB official in the award ceremony

The Champions Trophy 2025 concluded with India claiming the title by defeating New Zealand. However, the post-match ceremony was marred by the absence of any PCB officials, which is unusual for the host nation. Typically, the host country’s cricket board is present during such ceremonies.

ICC Chairman Jay Shah handed over the Champions Trophy to India skipper Rohit Sharma. Having witnessed the heartbreak of the ODI World Cup 2023 closely as the BCCI Secretary, the delight on the face of Shah after India’s victory was evident.

Reasons for the absence of PCB officials

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi was unable to attend due to prior commitments as Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Interior, according to reports. However, PCB CEO Sumair Ahmed, who was also the tournament director, was present at the venue but was not invited to the stage during the final ceremony. Media reports suggest that a misunderstanding might have led to Ahmed’s exclusion.

Reaction of former Pakistan cricketers

The absence of PCB officials has been met with disappointment and criticism from former Pakistan cricketers like Shoaib Akhtar and Wasim Akram. Akhtar expressed his dismay, stating that it was odd for no PCB representative to be present, especially since Pakistan was the host. The PCB is expected to address the matter with the ICC to clarify why its CEO was not included in the ceremony.

- Anirudh Singh

ENGLAND BOWL FIRST IN AHMEDABAD ODI AS INDIA REST KEY PLAYERS

England, trailing 2-0 in the three-match series, are aiming for a win ahead of the upcoming Champions Trophy.

India’s Champions Trophy preparations suffered a setback on Tuesday when fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out with an injury.

ENGLAND captain Jos Buttler won the toss and chose to bowl against India in the third one-day international in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.

England, trailing 2-0 in the three-match series, are aiming for a win ahead of the upcoming Champions Trophy.

Tom Banton replaces Jacob Bethell, who was ruled out with a hamstring injury before the second ODI in Cuttack. The ODIs serve as preparation for the Champions Trophy, which begins on February 19 in Pakistan and Dubai.

India made three changes, bringing in spinners Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav along with left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh. Mohammed Shami and Ravindra Jadeja were rested, while spinner Varun Chakravarthy was left out due to a sore calf.

India’s Champions Trophy preparations suffered a setback on Tuesday when fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out with an injury.

India: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh.

England: Phil Salt (wk), Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (capt), Tom Banton, Liam Livingstone, Gus Atkinson, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Saqib Mahmood

- Eastern Eye

SPORTS MINISTER URGES SOUTH AFRICA TO BOYCOTT AFGHANISTAN MATCH

Champions Trophy cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa at Edgbaston in Birmingham, England, Monday, June 10, 2013.
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Copyright © africanews
Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

South Africa's sports minister has joined public calls for the Proteas to boycott the Champions Trophy game against Afghanistan next month and criticised the International Cricket Council for not upholding its own rules.

Gayton McKenzie said on Thursday he felt “morally bound to support” a match boycott because the Taliban government has banned women's sports and disbanded the national women's cricket team.

"It is not for me as the sports minister to make the final decision on whether South Africa should honour cricketing fixtures against Afghanistan. If it was my decision, then it certainly would not happen,” McKenzie said in a statement.

“As a man who comes from a race that was not allowed equal access to sporting opportunities during apartheid, it would be hypocritical and immoral to look the other way today when the same is being done towards women anywhere in the world."

The Proteas are scheduled to play Afghanistan on Feb. 21 in a group match in Karachi, Pakistan.

England was also urged to forfeit its match against Afghanistan on Feb. 26 by more than 160 U.K. politicians on Monday.

McKenzie believed the ICC was also being hypocritical for not upholding its own mandates that member nations develop men's and women's cricket.

McKenzie noted Sri Lanka Cricket was suspended by the ICC from November 2023 to January 2024 for government interference.

“This does not happen in the case of Afghanistan, suggesting that political interference in the administration of sport is being tolerated there,” McKenzie said.

"Cricket South Africa, the federations of other countries and the ICC will have to think carefully about the message the sport of cricket wishes to send the world, and especially the women in sports.

“I hope that the consciences of all those involved in cricket, including the supporters, players and administrators, will take a firm stand in solidarity with the women of Afghanistan.”

- Rédaction Africanews with AP

ICC CHAMPIONS TROPHY: PAKISTAN STUNS RIVAL INDIA BY 180 RUNS

Pakistan triumphed by 180 runs to lift the Champions Trophy at the Oval...