The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has raised two major concerns ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy:
- Indian players wearing jerseys
with Pakistan’s name as the host country.
- Captain Rohit Sharma attending
the captain’s press conference in Pakistan.
Why Is
the BCCI Concerned About the Jerseys?
The BCCI has
rejected the idea of Indian players wearing jerseys with Pakistan’s name as the
host country. The ongoing political tensions between the two nations are the
main reason behind this decision. The BCCI believes it would be inappropriate
for Indian players to promote Pakistan as the host.
The Pakistan
Cricket Board (PCB), however, has sought help from the International Cricket
Council (ICC) to resolve this issue, further straining the relationship between
the two cricket boards.
Rohit
Sharma and the Press Conference
The BCCI has
also decided that Indian captain Rohit Sharma will not attend the
pre-tournament captain’s press conference and photoshoot in Pakistan. Instead,
the BCCI has requested these events to be held in the UAE, away from the
tensions in Pakistan.
PCB’s
Reaction
The PCB is
frustrated and accuses the BCCI of mixing politics with sports. A PCB official
expressed disappointment, saying the Indian board’s actions are harming the
game. They hope the ICC will step in to support Pakistan.
ICC’s
Rules on Jerseys
According to
ICC rules, all teams must include the tournament logo and the host country’s
name on their jerseys. For example, Pakistan’s jerseys featured India’s name
when India hosted the 2021 T20 World Cup and the 2023 ODI World Cup.
An ICC
official stated that not following these rules would breach the clothing code,
and strict action could be taken against India.
What’s
Next?
The
Champions Trophy is set to begin on February 19, with matches in Karachi,
Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Dubai. The ICC now faces the challenge of resolving
these disputes. The big question is whether these tensions will affect the
tournament or if a solution will be found in time.
