ICC Warns India Over Uniform-Related Rules

Thu Jan 23 2025
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Key points

  • India to follow rules about uniform in Champions Trophy
  • ICC has sent a “firm message” to BCCI
  • Pakistan to host ICC Champions Trophy

ISLAMABAD: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has issued a warning to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over its alleged refusal to have “Pakistan” printed on its team’s Champions Trophy kits as part of the tournament logo, according to media reports.

The reports said that BCCI on Wednesday affirmed its compliance with all uniform-related rules during the Champions Trophy after the warning from the ICC.  Pakistan will host the Champions Trophy from Feb 19 to March 9.

Indian media cited Devajit Saikia, the Indian cricket board’s secretary as saying, “ BCCI will follow every uniform-related ICC rule during Champions Trophy.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Pakistan state-run PTV reported that the BCCI was sent a “firm message” from the ICC about the alleged hesitation to print Pakistan on its kits.

It is the responsibility of every team to add the tournament logo to their jerseys. All teams are obligated to comply with this rule,” media reported an ICC official as saying.

ICC Champions Trophy

According to PTV, the ICC rejected the Indian board’s contention that it was not keen to have Pakistan written on its team kit as part of its host nation regulation.

“The Indian board has been asked by ICC that the Indian team is obligated to have ‘Pakistan’ written on the kit as Pakistan is the original host for the event,” according to PTV.

It is the responsibility of every team to add the tournament logo to their jerseys. All teams are obligated to comply with this rule.”  – an ICC official

India has not played any bilateral cricket with Pakistan since 2012-13. While no Indian team has toured Pakistan after the 2008 Asia Cup, Pakistan teams in the meantime have been travelling to India for different ICC tournaments. Experts and cricket lovers strongly criticized India for exploiting sports for political gains.

In order to accommodate India in the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan, a two-way hybrid model has been adopted by the ICC with the consent of the Pakistan Cricket Board and BCCI to hold all the Champions Trophy matches involving India at neutral venues.

Under the same model, Pakistan will not travel to India for any future ICC tournament in which India will hold Pakistan’s matches at a neutral venue.

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