Sun Mar 09 16:50:00 UTC 2025: ## India Wins Champions Trophy, Snubs Pakistan in Award Ceremony
**Dubai, UAE** – India clinched the ICC Champions Trophy title after a resounding victory over New Zealand, but the post-match celebrations were marked by a significant snub of the tournament hosts, Pakistan.
The tournament, originally scheduled to be played entirely in Pakistan, saw India refuse to travel to the country citing security concerns. This led to a controversial split arrangement, with 10 matches held in Pakistan and five, including India’s matches, moved to Dubai. Despite Pakistan’s role as the official hosts, their cricket board officials were conspicuously absent from the award ceremony.
The ceremony, held immediately after India’s emphatic win (a four-wicket victory chasing 252 runs), featured ICC chairman Jay Shah, BCCI president Roger Binny, BCCI secretary Devjit Saikia, and former New Zealand cricketer Roger Twose. However, no representatives from the Pakistan Cricket Board were present on stage. This omission comes despite Pakistan’s undertaking significant stadium renovations in Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi to prepare for the tournament.
The Indian team’s undefeated run throughout the tournament, including wins against Bangladesh, Pakistan, New Zealand, and Australia, was a key highlight. Rohit Sharma’s 76 runs and crucial contributions from Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja sealed India’s victory, avenging a previous loss to New Zealand in the final of the 2000 Champions Trophy.
The exclusion of Pakistan from the award ceremony has sparked controversy, with many critics pointing out the significant logistical hurdles faced by other teams due to India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan. The decision to shift matches to Dubai, requiring teams to travel between Pakistan and the UAE, was heavily criticized by several former players. Despite the logistical complications and the controversy surrounding India’s participation, India’s decisive victory capped off a dramatic tournament.
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