A new controversy has erupted ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy, set to be held in Pakistan and Dubai, as India has reportedly objected to having ‘Pakistan’ (the host nation’s name) printed on their team jersey. While Pakistan remains the official host of the tournament, India will play all its matches in Dubai under the hybrid model agreed upon by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) following the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) refusal to send its team to Pakistan. However, the latest dispute over the jersey has sparked fresh tensions.
A PCB official, speaking to news agency IANS on condition of anonymity, accused the BCCI of bringing politics into cricket by refusing to include Pakistan’s name on the Indian team’s jersey. The official also pointed out that the Indian board had previously declined to send captain Rohit Sharma to Pakistan for the captains’ meet, an official curtain-raiser event for the tournament.
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“BCCI is bringing politics into cricket, which is not good for the game. They refused to travel to Pakistan, declined to send their captain for the opening ceremony, and now there are reports they don’t want the host nation’s name on their jersey. We believe the ICC will not allow this and will support Pakistan,” the PCB official stated.
Despite persistent efforts from the PCB, the BCCI has remained firm in its decision not to send Team India to Pakistan. The eventual acceptance of India’s demands by the PCB could impact future ICC events, with the possibility of Pakistan refusing to travel to India for upcoming tournaments.
With the Champions Trophy just a month away, tensions between the two cricket boards continue to escalate.