A fresh controversy has erupted ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which is set to be co-hosted by Pakistan and Dubai, with India reportedly objecting to having "Pakistan" listed as the host nation on their team jerseys. While India’s matches will be played in Dubai, Pakistan is officially the host of the tournament.
The dispute began after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) reached a compromise on a hybrid model for the tournament, after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) refused to send its team to Pakistan. However, the latest issue over the host nation's name on India’s jerseys has reignited tensions.
A PCB official, speaking to IANS, accused the BCCI of politicizing cricket by objecting to the inclusion of Pakistan’s name on India’s shirts. There have also been reports that the Indian board declined to send captain Rohit Sharma to Pakistan for the captains’ meeting, a crucial event leading up to the Champions Trophy.
"The BCCI is bringing politics into the game, which undermines the spirit of the sport. They refused to travel to Pakistan, and now they’re hesitant to send their captain for the opening ceremony. There are even reports suggesting they do not want the host country’s (Pakistan’s) name on their jerseys. We expect the ICC to step in and ensure that Pakistan is treated with respect," the PCB official, who wished to remain anonymous, told the news agency.
Despite the PCB’s pressure, the BCCI has stuck to its position of not sending the Indian team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. As a result, the PCB had to accept India’s terms, which now include a stipulation that Pakistan’s team will not travel to India for future ICC events.
With the Champions Trophy just a month away, this ongoing controversy continues to dominate discussions in the cricketing world.
