According to reports, this decision by the cricket body stems from its earlier stance of not travelling to Pakistan due to security concerns
GUWAHATI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly unwilling to print "Pakistan" on Team India’s jerseys for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
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According to reports, this decision by the cricket body stems from its earlier stance of not travelling to Pakistan due to security concerns. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has expressed its disappointment in return, with a PCB official reportedly stating, “BCCI is bringing politics into cricket, which is not good for the game.”
The PCB further pointed out that it is customary for the host nation's name to appear on the jerseys of all participating teams. “We believe the ICC will ensure that the host nation’s name is included on the jerseys,” the official added.
Additionally, reports have also suggested that India’s captain Rohit Sharma may not attend the tournament’s opening ceremony in Pakistan. The PCB official reportedly commented, “It is customary for all captains to attend the press conference before the tournament starts, but India seems unwilling to follow this tradition.”
The tournament is being hosted by Pakistan, with matches scheduled in both Pakistan and Dubai. However, all of India’s matches will be played in Dubai under the hybrid model approved by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
India and Pakistan have not played bilateral series for several years due to political tensions. The teams now face each other only during ICC tournaments and the Asia Cup.
