"ICC showed us mirror" - Kamran Akmal drops truth bomb on PAK officials' absence from CT final ceremony
Published - 13 Mar 2025, 03:53 PM | Updated - 13 Mar 2025, 03:54 PM
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Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal has shared his views on the controversy surrounding the absence of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) representatives during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 prize distribution ceremony.
Kamran Akmal has boldly said that Pakistan simply didn’t "deserve" to be part of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 prize distribution ceremony after their embarrassing performance in the tournament. The Men in Green crashed out of the tournament after suffering back-to-back defeats in the group stages.
Kamran Akmal reacts to PCB’s absence at ICC Champions Trophy 2025 prize distribution ceremony
And their final league match against Bangladesh was washed out in Rawalpindi. The PCB has raised concerns with the International Cricket Council (ICC) over the absence of Pakistani officials during the prize distribution ceremony after India defeated New Zealand by four wickets in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final to lift the trophy in Dubai on March 9.
PCB Chief Executive and tournament director Sumair Ahmad Syed was present at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai during the final in place of the PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, who was unwell. However, Sumair was absent during the prize distribution ceremony.
After the PCB raised the issue with the ICC, Akmal didn't hold back in his criticism, saying Pakistan’s poor performance in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 was the reason behind the PCB officials’ absence during the prize distribution ceremony.
The ICC showed us the mirror: Kamran Akmal
Kamran Akmal stressed that if the team wants respect on the global stage, they must focus on improving their cricket rather than complaining about off-field matters.
Kamran Akmal said on his YouTube channel, “The ICC showed us the mirror. The tournament's director was there. He was available, and why wasn't he in the ceremony? It is because we don't deserve to be there. We are not playing good cricket. Minow teams have shown us the mirror. No one discussed how Pakistan hosted the tournament. If we play such cricket, we will be treated like this. If you play for yourself, there will be no respect.”
It is being said that the PCB has formally asked the ICC for an explanation regarding the controversy. According to ESPNcricinfo, the PCB did not inform the ICC that Sumair Ahmad Syed would be stepping in for Mohsin Naqvi at the ceremony. However, the Pakistan board feels it was the ICC's responsibility to reach out and confirm who would be there in place of Naqvi.
Mohsin Naqvi should have gone to Dubai: Basit Ali
However, Basit Ali said that Mohsin Naqvi should have attended the prize distribution ceremony. He mentioned that there was no one from Pakistan because the PCB chairman was not there.
Basit Ali said on his YouTube channel, “Mohsin Naqvi, who is the PCB chairman, should have gone to Dubai. This is my view. Because he has his own airplane.”
