By Zainab Shafiq 
The Board of Control for Cricket in India has declared that the Indian cricket team would abide by all the rules laid down by the International Cricket Council regarding the Champions Trophy, in particular about displaying the official logo of the tournament on India’s jersey. The logo, which is being used prominently features Pakistan as the host of the tournament scheduled between February 19 and March 9, 2025.
“We will follow whatever are the ICC guidelines,” BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia said while responding to recent debates about Indian jersey compliance with ICC requirements. While questions were raised over the logo that carried Pakistan’s imprint, Saikia said, “We will follow the ICC directive.” So, speculation over any objection from India over the logo is literally nipped in the bud.
Indian Team’s Venue and Historical Context
Although Pakistan is hosting the Champions Trophy, the Indian team is set to play its matches in Dubai due to longstanding political tensions and security concerns. India has not visited Pakistan for bilateral or multilateral cricket since 2008. Whether Indian captain Rohit Sharma will travel to Pakistan for the opening ceremony in Karachi remains uncertain, as BCCI has not issued an official stance on this matter.
ICC’s Uniform Guidelines
As part of ICC regulations, teams must have kits for every event branded specifically for that tournament, such as logos on their jerseys and training kits. The ICC has checked and verified these kits so as to be standardised around all the global events. This is not a first, as there are previous events: the 2017 Champions Trophy and the present ICC Women’s U19 T20 World Cup have adhered to such logo regulation policies, in which the host countries’ names feature on official branding.
A Stark Contrast with Asia Cup Policies
Interestingly, the Asia Cup operates differently. For instance, in the 2023 edition, despite Pakistan being the official host, jerseys did not include the host nation’s name on the event logo. This deviation reflects the Asian Cricket Council’s (ACC) distinct policy, differing from ICC’s standardized guidelines for global tournaments.
PCB and ICC’s Position
Though the Pakistan Cricket Board has maintained a silence over the issue, it has been said that the ICC hasn’t received any formal application from the BCCI to change the logo or concerns over the opening ceremony. It means India’s Champions Trophy jersey will have Pakistan inscribed on them.
With this confirmation, the BCCI aims to align itself with ICC policies, demonstrating a commitment to maintaining professionalism and sportsmanship on the global stage. The Champions Trophy promises to be a much-anticipated event, and fans will be eager to see how teams perform amid the geopolitical backdrop.
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India will not travel to Pakistan for Champions Trophy 2025