The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has clarified its position on including "Pakistan" in the Champions Trophy 2025 logo on India's jerseys. Addressing rumors that the BCCI wanted to remove Pakistan's name from the logo, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia emphasized that the Indian cricket team and the board will strictly adhere to the International Cricket Council's (ICC) guidelines for the tournament.
Saikia dismissed speculation about any objections from India, reaffirming that the team will wear jerseys that include Pakistan's name as the tournament's official host. He explained that the ICC's regulations mandate all participating teams to display the host nation's name beneath the tournament logo, irrespective of where their matches are played. This practice was observed during previous tournaments, such as the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE, where Pakistan's jerseys included India’s name as the host.
The Champions Trophy 2025 is set to begin on February 19, with Pakistan playing New Zealand in the opening match. Although Pakistan is the designated host, not all of their matches will take place at home due to diplomatic and logistical considerations. India’s group-stage matches, including the much-anticipated clash against Pakistan on February 23, will be played in Dubai. The group stage will also see India face Bangladesh on February 20 and New Zealand on March 2.
Should India progress to the semi-finals and finals, the matches will also be hosted in Dubai. Saikia reiterated that India has no reason to contravene ICC rules, stating, "BCCI's stand is loud and clear: we will follow all ICC guidelines, including those for the jersey logo. The media reports suggesting otherwise were baseless."
