With the ICC Champions Trophy drawing closer, tensions have risen between the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the Pakistan Cricket Board. Because the BCCI pulled its team out of participation in Pakistan, the tournament is assuming a hybrid format, with India scheduled to play in Dubai. In a further development, the BCCI has barred captain Rohit Sharma from attending two key pre-tournament events in Pakistan—the captains’ press conference and the traditional photo session.
The BCCI has sought a shift of both events to Dubai so that Rohit can participate and that this decision has upset the PCB, which feels it is not consulted on the board’s demands. A source quoted in the report said, “ICC has already accommodated India’s request not to schedule its Champions Trophy matches in Pakistan, so these are minor issues.”
This online noise has also arisen from the fact that the BCCI is hesitant to put ‘Pakistan’ on Team India’s kits. The ICC rules stipulate that the name of the host country should be on the jerseys of teams participating in a tournament. The Indian board is, however, seeking an exception, saying its matches will take place in Dubai.
A PCB official vented frustrations, saying that “The BCCI is playing politics in cricket, which affects the game. They never wanted to tour Pakistan and now also do not want to wear any name of host nation on jerseys. We hope the ICC wouldn’t let that happen and that they would stay with Pakistan.
It is worth noting that during the 2021 T20 World Cup held in the UAE, Pakistan’s jerseys included India’s name. If India persists in excluding Pakistan’s name from the Champions Trophy logo, it could violate the ICC’s Code of Conduct.
The Champions Trophy is set to commence on February 19, with stakeholders closely monitoring the unfolding situation.
