Wasim Akram Criticizes PCB Over Absence At Champions Trophy 2025 Final

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final ended with India defeating New Zealand by four wickets, securing their first 50-over ICC title in 12 years. However, controversy arose as no Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official was present during the award ceremony, despite Pakistan being the official host. Wasim Akram, Pakistan’s cricket legend, publicly expressed his disapproval, calling PCB’s absence a major oversight.

Wasim Akram slammed PCB for skipping the Champions Trophy final podium.
India won the final by defeating New Zealand with dominant performances.
Akram defended India against pitch advantage criticism.

Wasim Akram’s Disappointment Over PCB’s No-Show

During the post-match ceremony, PCB’s COO Sumair Ahmad Syed and Director of International Usman Wahla were present in Dubai but did not appear on stage. This led Akram to question PCB’s lack of representation. He insisted that at least one Pakistani official should have been on stage, even if they were not presenting awards.

“We were the hosts, right? Why wasn’t even the COO or any representative there? It looked odd,” Akram questioned on The Dressing Room show.

India’s Dominant Performance in the Final

Chasing 252 runs, India started strong with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill putting up a 100-run opening stand. Contributions from Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Hardik Pandya ensured India’s comfortable victory.

India’s Key Performers	Performance
Rohit Sharma & Shubman Gill	100-run partnership
Shreyas Iyer	Steady middle-order contribution
KL Rahul & Hardik Pandya	Guided India to victory

Akram Defends India Amid Pitch Controversy

Many critics argued that India had an advantage by playing all their matches in Dubai instead of Pakistan. Akram dismissed these claims, asserting that India’s quality was too strong regardless of the venue.

“Even if they played in Pakistan, they would have won the same way,” Akram stated.

India remained undefeated throughout the tournament, mirroring their dominant 2024 T20 World Cup campaign. Their decision to play in Dubai was due to security concerns, yet they managed to secure the Champions Trophy convincingly.

Why PCB’s Absence Was a Big Deal

PCB’s decision to skip the award ceremony raised several questions:

Was it a diplomatic issue?
Did PCB refuse to acknowledge India’s victory?
Was it simply an oversight?

Regardless of the reason, Akram believed PCB’s absence was damaging for Pakistan’s image as a host nation.

Wasim Akram’s frustration with PCB highlights a deeper issue in Pakistan’s cricket administration. While India celebrated a well-deserved victory, Pakistan’s missed opportunity to uphold its hosting responsibilities became a talking point. Cricket should unite nations, not create unnecessary controversies.

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