Shoaib Akhtar is fuming, ‘why no one from host PCB after Champions Trophy final presentation ceremony?’
Dubai, UAE – Cricket legend Shoaib Akhtar is not holding back, folks! The Rawalpindi Express is fuming after a glaring absence at the Champions Trophy final presentation ceremony. India clinched the title in a thriller against New Zealand right here in Dubai, but it wasn’t the trophy lift that caught Akhtar’s eye – it was who wasn’t on stage.
Picture this India celebrating a massive win, their captain Rohit Sharma hoisting the Champions Trophy high. Right there with him? Top brass from the Indian and international cricket scene – ICC Chairman Jay Shah, BCCI President Roger Binny, and BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia. All standard protocol, right? Wrong!
Akhtar, watching from afar, couldn’t believe his eyes. Where was the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) representation? Nowhere to be seen. And that, in Akhtar’s book, is a massive fumble.
“Blown away! Absolutely blown away!” Akhtar blasted in a video message. “India wins the Champions Trophy, fantastic. But hold on… Pakistan is officially hosting this whole shebang! Where were our guys? Presentation ceremony, world stage – you gotta be there! Nobody from the PCB to hand over the trophy, nobody on stage. Seriously feeling down about this. We hosted, but we were invisible.”
Let’s rewind a bit. Pakistan was supposed to host the Champions Trophy outright. But, you know the story, political heat between India and Pakistan meant India wouldn’t travel across the border. Enter the hybrid model – a cricket compromise. Dubai became India’s home base for the tournament, including the big final. Even though the final shifted to Dubai depending on India’s progress, Pakistan remained the official hosts.
And that’s the crux of Akhtar’s frustration. He sees it as a matter of principle, a matter of presence. Host nation or not, Pakistan’s absence at such a key moment on the global cricket stage is, in his words, “beyond me.”
Now, let’s talk about what happened on the field. Pakistan, the defending champs coming into this tournament, had a shocker. Knocked out in the group stage, not a single win on the board. Tough pill to swallow for Pakistani fans.
Meanwhile, India? Clinical. Captain Rohit Sharma smashed a brilliant half-century, spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav spun webs around the opposition, and KL Rahul iced the chase with a cool-headed finish. India takes home the Champions Trophy, their third title, adding another trophy to their cabinet.
But for Akhtar, the off-field drama of the presentation ceremony overshadows even India’s victory. The missing PCB officials? In his view, a missed opportunity, and a moment that leaves a sour taste, despite the on-field action. It’s a talking point that’s sure to rumble on in the cricket world.