Kamran Akmal Gives Reality Check On Pakistan’s Omission From CT Prize Ceremony

March 12, 2025: Former wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal has expressed his views on the controversy surrounding Pakistan’s absence from the prize distribution ceremony of the recently concluded ICC Champions Trophy. The absence of a representative from the host nation has raised several questions, especially after India’s victory over New Zealand in the final.

The controversy arose as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) did not have a representative on stage when the prize distribution ceremony took place in Dubai. PCB Chief Executive Sumair Ahmad Syed, who had been present at the venue, was expected to take the place of PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who was unavailable due to illness. However, Syed was notably absent during the ceremony, sparking protests from the PCB.

Kamran Akmal, in a candid remark on his YouTube channel, stated that Pakistan didn’t deserve to have a representative present during the ceremony. He explained that the absence reflected the current state of Pakistan’s cricket and its performance. Akmal emphasized that the nation’s cricketing standards had fallen short and that “minor teams” had shown Pakistan “the mirror,” implying that the country’s performance had not been at the level required to earn respect.

“The ICC showed us the mirror. The tournament’s director (Sumair) 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,” Akmal said.

He also added that Pakistan needed to improve its cricketing standards to regain the respect it had lost over time, noting that if Pakistan continued to play poorly, it would not be treated with the respect it had once enjoyed in international cricket.

The PCB has since demanded a formal explanation from the ICC regarding the incident. Reports suggest that the PCB did not notify the ICC about Sumair Ahmad Syed representing the board chairman during the ceremony. However, the PCB argues that the onus was on the ICC to contact them and inquire about Naqvi’s replacement, thus further complicating the issue.

The absence of a Pakistani representative during the prize ceremony continues to spark debates about the country’s cricketing reputation and the way it is perceived globally.