The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the International Cricket Council (ICC) over the exclusion of its CEO and Champions Trophy tournament director, Sumair Ahmed Syed, from the presentation ceremony of the Champions Trophy final held in Dubai. According to sources within the PCB, chairman Mohsin Naqvi has rejected the explanation provided by the ICC and is preparing to register a formal protest.

ICC’s explanation not accepted by PCB

The ICC reportedly informed the PCB that arrangements had been made for Naqvi to be present on stage, but when he did not attend the final match, the presentation ceremony plans were altered. However, PCB sources claim that this reasoning does not justify ignoring Ahmed Syed, who was directly involved in organizing the event.

The PCB has also pointed out other instances where it felt that its role as the tournament’s host nation was undermined. These included the alteration of the Champions Trophy 2025 logo during the live broadcast of the India vs Bangladesh match and an incident during the Australia vs England game in Lahore, where the Indian national anthem was mistakenly played before being quickly rectified.

Presentation ceremony dominated by Indian cricket officials

The presentation ceremony saw BCCI president Roger Binny awarding white jackets to the Indian players and medals to match officials, while ICC chairman Jay Shah handed the Champions Trophy to Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and distributed medals to the winning team. Others present on the stage included BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and New Zealand Cricket’s CEO Roger Twose, but no representative from the PCB was included.

Mohsin Naqvi expresses gratitude despite controversy

Despite the ongoing dispute, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi took to social media to express his appreciation for everyone involved in the successful organization of the Champions Trophy. He extended his gratitude to PCB officials, law enforcement agencies, provincial governments, ICC officials, and visiting teams for their contributions.

“Your commitment and collective efforts ensured the seamless execution of the prestigious tournament,” Naqvi stated, emphasizing that Pakistan takes immense pride in hosting the Champions Trophy and making it a spectacle for cricket fans worldwide.

Indian cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal made headlines during the India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy 2025 final in Dubai, but not for his performance on the field. Instead, his presence in the stands with a mystery woman caught the attention of fans and social media users.

The high-stakes final saw New Zealand’s captain Mitchell Santner winning the toss and opting to bat first. This marked India’s 15th consecutive toss loss in ODI cricket, including 12 under Rohit Sharma’s leadership. Despite this setback, India’s bowlers performed exceptionally well, restricting the Blackcaps to 251/7 in 50 overs. Spinners Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav led the attack, each claiming two wickets, while Daryl Mitchell was the top scorer for New Zealand with 63 runs.

Chahal’s appearance with RJ Mahvash sparks intrigue

While fans were engrossed in the final match, Chahal’s presence with a woman in the stands turned heads. The mystery woman was later identified as Mahvash, a well-known radio jockey. The sighting comes amid Chahal’s ongoing divorce proceedings with his wife, Dhanashree Verma.

For months, speculations about their separation had circulated online, and reports confirmed last week that the couple had officially filed for divorce. Their legal proceedings are currently underway at the Bandra Family Court, where both were reportedly present for hearings. However, Dhanashree’s lawyer, Aditi Mohan, dismissed several media claims, urging for responsible reporting and fact-checking.

Dhanashree’s family denies alimony rumors

Amid the divorce news, certain media reports suggested that Dhanashree had demanded ₹60 crore as alimony. However, her family issued a statement strongly refuting these claims, calling them baseless and urging media outlets to refrain from spreading misinformation.

“We are deeply outraged by the false claims regarding the alimony figure. No such demand was made, and such misinformation only adds unnecessary speculation. We request media houses to respect privacy and verify facts before reporting,” the statement read.

Chahal set to play for Punjab Kings in IPL 2025

On the professional front, Chahal is gearing up for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. The seasoned spinner was signed by Punjab Kings for a massive ₹18 crore during the IPL mega auction in December 2024.

India’s Champions Trophy 2025 triumph was marked by jubilant celebrations, but a heartfelt moment between Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shami’s mother has touched the hearts of millions. Following India’s emphatic four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the final at Dubai, Kohli’s warm gesture of touching Shami’s mother’s feet as a mark of respect has gone viral on social media.

In a video captured by the official broadcast, Kohli was seen bowing down to touch the feet of Mohammed Shami’s mother, a traditional Indian gesture to show respect. The heartwarming interaction, followed by smiles and a photograph with Shami’s family, has been widely appreciated by fans, highlighting the strong camaraderie within the Indian cricket team.

Ahead of the tournament, both Kohli, 36, and Shami, 34, had their fair share of scrutiny, but they silenced critics with stellar performances when it mattered the most.

Kohli emerged as India’s second-highest run-scorer in the tournament and the fifth overall. His crucial contributions included a century against Pakistan in the group stage and a match-winning 84-run knock in the semi-final against Australia. This victory added another feather to Kohli’s cap, making it his fourth major ICC title and second Champions Trophy win.

Shami, on the other hand, overcame injury setbacks to make a remarkable return. With Jasprit Bumrah missing from the squad, Shami led India’s pace attack and delivered under pressure. His outstanding performances included a five-wicket haul against Bangladesh, three wickets in the semi-final against Australia, and another crucial scalp in the final. He finished as India’s joint-highest wicket-taker alongside Varun Chakravarthy.

Following the heartbreak of the 2023 World Cup final, India has bounced back in remarkable fashion, clinching two ICC trophies in succession— the T20 World Cup 2024 and the Champions Trophy 2025. With an impressive record of 23 wins in their last 24 ICC matches, India has reaffirmed its dominance on the global stage.