The BCCI has confirmed that India will compete in the Champions Trophy using ICC jerseys with the insignia of the host nation, Pakistan.
For the forthcoming Champions Trophy, the Indian squad will adhere strictly to the rules set forth by the International Cricket Council (ICC), according to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). This includes wearing their jerseys with the official ICC logo, which bears the name of the host country, Pakistan.
In a statement, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia addressed the recent issue regarding the Champions Trophy logo and the Indian team’s uniform, saying,
“We will follow whatever the ICC guidelines are.” “We will follow the ICC directive,” Saikia reaffirmed when asked if Pakistan’s name should be on the ICC emblem.
The rumors that India would object to the usage of the official ICC logo have been put to rest by this statement. Due to political and security concerns, India will play their matches in Dubai, even though Pakistan is the official host of the Champions Trophy, which is set to take place from February 19 to March 9. Since 2008, the Indian cricket team hasn’t been to Pakistan.
All competing teams in ICC competitions must follow the council’s rules, which include submitting their jerseys for approval. This guarantees that all teams use the same branding for the tournament, including references to the host country. Notably, Pakistan’s players wore shirts with India as the host during the 2023 World Cup, and England and Wales were named as hosts on the jerseys for the 2017 Champions Trophy.
This strategy is in contrast to the 2023 Asia Cup, which did not include the name of the host country in its emblem. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chose a different branding strategy for the competition.
Whether Indian captain Rohit Sharma or any other team members would attend the Champions Trophy opening ceremony, which is scheduled for February 19 in Karachi, has not yet been confirmed by the BCCI. Karachi will also host the tournament’s opening match.
According to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), it is not officially aware of any requests or objections made by the BCCI. Meanwhile, the ICC has refrained from commenting but stated that it has not received any formal contact on the topic from India.
The Champions Trophy is anticipated to garner a great deal of international interest, and following ICC procedures is meant to guarantee consistency and a seamless event.
