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The BCCI reportedly do not want to have Pakistan’s name on their jersey for the Champions Trophy 2025.
BCCI do not want to have Pakistan’s name on their CT 2025 jersey. (PTI Photo)
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly taken a firm stance regarding the team jersey and Rohit Sharma’s participation in the captain’s press conference for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025.
After the BCCI put pressure on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) to have their games shifted out of Pakistan and to the UAE, a new topic of concern has emerged.
According to a report by the Times of India, the BCCI does not want Team India players to wear their jerseys with Pakistan’s name as hosts. The PCB is now looking at the ICC to help resolve this solution amidst the ongoing tussle between the two rival nations.
The report also claims that the BCCI also would not send the Indian skipper, Rohit Sharma, out to Pakistan for the customary captain’s press conference and the photo shoot. Instead, the Indian Cricket Board wants the two events to be shifted to the UAE.
“ICC has already accommodated India’s request to not schedule its CT matches in Pakistan, so these are minor issues,” an unnamed source from the BCCI said.
The PCB remains irritated by the situation and will look to the ICC to find an ideal resolution. An unnamed source from the PCB has reportedly suggested that the BCCI is also bringing politics to the sport.
“BCCI is bringing politics into cricket, which is not at all good for the game. They refused to travel to Pakistan. They don’t want to send their captain (to Pakistan) for the opening ceremony; now there are reports that they don’t want the host nation’s (Pakistan) name printed on their jersey. We believe that the world governing body (ICC) will not let this happen and support Pakistan,” a PCB official, on condition of anonymity, told IANS on Monday.
The ICC’s rules suggest that should India not wear the official logo of the tournament along with the designated hosts’ names, it would amount to a breach of the ICC’s official code regarding clothing. It has been the tradition in such tournaments, like when Pakistan had worn India’s name when the latter hosted the 2021 T20 World Cup or the 2023 ODI World Cup where India played hosts.
It remains to be seen as to the kind of resolution the ICC would come to as the tournament is set to begin on February 19, with the 15 matches being held across four grounds in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Dubai, respectively.
