Ahead of the next ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan and Dubai, India is said to have turned down the printing of &’Pakistan&’ on its team jersey, thus starting a fresh controversy. Though the competition is being technically conducted by Pakistan, India will have their Champions Trophy matches in Dubai. After the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) refused to send its team to Pakistan, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) had agreed to a hybrid model. Still, the denial of putting the name of the host country on India’s jersey has ignited new frictions.
A PCB official claimed to IANS that the BCCI introduced “politics into cricket” by opposing Pakistan’s mention. India had earlier too purportedly denied sending captain Rohit Sharma to Pakistan for the captain’s meeting before the Champions Trophy, a crucial event before the competition.
BCCI is dragging politics into cricket, which is really not healthy for the sport. They would not go to Pakistan. Now there are reports that they don’t want their jersey to have the host nation’s (Pakistan) name printed on it, so they don’t want to send their captain (to Pakistan) for the opening ceremony. The PCB official, who asked to be kept anonymous, stated that the world governing body (ICC) would not let this happen and therefore support Pakistan.
Notwithstanding the PCB’s insistence, the BCCI has held its view opposed to sending Team India to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. The Pakistan board had to therefore accept India’s terms, although this fresh deal would also keep the PCB from sending its team to India for upcoming ICC tournaments.
The debate still grabs front-page attention as the Champions Trophy looms just about a month off.