New Delhi: A fresh controversy has erupted ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025 as India have reportedly refused to get ‘Pakistan’ printed on their jersey for the multi-nation tournament. Pakistan are the official hosts of the Champions Trophy 2025 and it is usual for all participating teams to have the name of the host nation on their jersey.
However, as per reports, India, who will play all their matches in the UAE, have refused to print ‘Pakistan’ on their jersey. India will be playing their matches at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) agreed to a hybrid model for the tournament following the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)’s refusal to send the Indian team to Pakistan.
BCCI and PCB were involved in a long-standing standoff over the venue of the tournament until ICC intervened in the matter and a hybrid model was agreed upon last month. Now BCCI’s stance on not having Pakistan’s name printed on Team India’s jersey has left PCB infuriated once again. Earlier, the BCCI had also reportedly refused to send skipper Rohit Sharma to Pakistan for the ‘captain’s meet’, a curtain-raiser event ahead of the start of the Champions Trophy.
“BCCI is bringing politics into cricket, which is not at all good for the game. They refused to travel to Pakistan. They don’t want to send their captain (to Pakistan) for the opening ceremony, now there are reports that they don’t want the host nation’s (Pakistan) name printed on their jersey. We believe that the world governing body (ICC) will not let this happen and support Pakistan,” a PCB official was quoted as saying by news agency IANS.
Pakistan are the official hosts of the tournament and also the defending champions having won the last edition of the Champions Trophy in 2017. Pakistan defeated India in the final to lift the title in England in 2017. Champions Trophy 2025 marks the return of an ICC event to Pakistan for the first time after 28 years.
India name strong squad for Champions Trophy 2025
India have announced a strong 15-man squad for the Champions Trophy 2025 as they look to add another ICC trophy to their illustrious cabin after winning the T20 World Cup last year. Rohit will be leading the side with Shubman Gill serving as his deputy. India have named a star-studded batting line-up consisting of the likes of Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit, Gill, Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul among others.
India also have a host of quality all-rounders in Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar while the pace attack will be spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami. Arshdeep Singh will partner Bumrah and Shami in the pace attack while Kuldeep Yadav is the lone specialist spinner in the squad.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been left fuming after the Indian team has reportedly refused to have ‘Pakistan’ printed on their jersey for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
