The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) appears to have adopted a resolute stance on two contentious issues leading up to the 2025 Champions Trophy: the team jersey and Indian captain Rohit Sharma’s participation in pre-tournament formalities.
This development comes in the wake of the BCCI’s successful push to relocate India’s matches in the tournament from Pakistan to the UAE, a move that had already stirred tensions. According to a report by the Times of India, the BCCI has now expressed strong opposition to the inclusion of Pakistan’s name as hosts on Team India’s jerseys. This has further fueled the ongoing discord, with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) turning to the International Cricket Council (ICC) for intervention.
Adding to the strain, the BCCI has reportedly decided that Rohit Sharma will not travel to Pakistan for the customary captain’s press conference and photo session. Instead, the board has urged that these ceremonial events be shifted to the UAE. A BCCI source, speaking anonymously, downplayed the significance of these demands, stating, “The ICC has already agreed to India’s request not to schedule its matches in Pakistan, so these are minor issues.”
However, the PCB views these developments as deeply troubling. Sources from the board have accused the BCCI of politicizing the sport, further complicating an already strained relationship between the two cricketing powerhouses. A PCB official, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed frustration over the situation: “The 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 for the opening ceremony, and now they reportedly oppose having the host nation’s name on their jersey. We believe the ICC will not allow this and will support Pakistan.”
With tensions escalating, the ICC now faces the difficult task of navigating this standoff between two influential cricketing boards, each vying for leverage in a highly charged geopolitical context.
