New Delhi, 22 January 2025: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that the Indian cricket team will comply with the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) guidelines for the upcoming Champions Trophy. This includes featuring the official ICC logo, which incorporates Pakistan’s name, on the Indian jersey.
“We will follow whatever are the ICC guidelines,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said while addressing the ongoing debate over the logo, according to media reports.
Saikia clarified further, stating, “We will follow the ICC directive,” when asked about the inclusion of Pakistan in the logo.
The Champions Trophy, scheduled from February 19 to March 9, will see Pakistan as the designated host. However, India’s matches are set to take place in Dubai as the Indian team will not travel to Pakistan. Discussions on whether Indian captain Rohit Sharma will attend the opening ceremony in Karachi, where the inaugural match is to be held, remain unresolved.
This marks India’s continued absence from playing cricket in Pakistan since 2008, despite adherence to ICC norms at global events. According to protocol, teams must submit their kits for ICC approval, ensuring compliance. Historical precedent supports this practice, with past ICC events featuring host nations’ names in logos. For instance, the 2017 Champions Trophy logo included “England and Wales,” and Pakistan wore jerseys in the 2023 ODI World Cup featuring the event logo with “India.”
The situation contrasts with the Asia Cup’s policies. During the 2023 Asia Cup, organized by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) with Pakistan as the official host, logos omitted Pakistan’s name following a change in the ACC’s guidelines.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not commented, and the ICC has not received any objections or formal communication from the BCCI regarding the logo or the opening ceremony.
