Champions Trophy 2025 : India Refuse To Have Pakistan's Name On Jersey, Ditch ICC Tradition- Report

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Rohit Sharma-led India will begin their campaign for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on February 20, where they will be facing neighbours Bangladesh. This particular tournament also marks the first ICC event in Pakistan since the 1996 ODI World Cup.

However, due to security concerns, the Men in Blue will not travel across the border and will instead play all their matches in Dubai.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have been in disagreement over the hybrid model being used for the tournament.

Recently as per a report by IANS, tensions escalated further as a PCB official claimed that India does not want the host country's name, Pakistan, on their jerseys, breaking a long-standing ICC tradition.

The PCB official accused the BCCI of politicizing cricket, highlighting India's refusal to play in Pakistan and the decision not to send captain Rohit Sharma for the opening ceremony. He expressed hope that the ICC would intervene and support Pakistan in this matter.

"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 (to Pakistan) for the opening ceremony, now there are reports that they don't want the host nation's (Pakistan) name printed on their jersey. We believe that the world governing body (ICC) will not let this happen and support Pakistan," the PCB official revealed.

India's group stage matches include a high-stakes encounter with Pakistan on February 23, followed by their final group match against New Zealand on March 2. Before that the Men in Blue will engage in a T20I as well as an ODI series before they get ready to make their mark in yet another ICC tournament.

India last won the Champions Trophy back in 2013 under the tutelage of MS Dhoni.