The International Cricket Council has reportedly refuted reports coming out of India that the Board of Control for Cricket in India has decided to remove the name of the host nation, Pakistan, from jerseys for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Pakistani media reports assert that the ICC has clarified that it is a mandatory requirement for all participating teams to display the tournament’s official logo on their kits, which includes the name of the host nation.
“It is the responsibility of every team to add the tournament logo to their jerseys. All teams are obligated to comply with this rule,” Pakistan’s Geo Super quoted an ICC source as having stated.
The ICC’s clarification follows Indian media reports claiming that the BCCI had decided to omit Pakistan’s name from Team India’s jerseys for the upcoming tournament.
The ICC emphasised that any team failing to display the official logo on their jerseys would face strict action.
Traditionally, it is standard practice for teams participating in ICC tournaments to feature the host nation’s name as part of the tournament branding, even if some matches are held in different locations.
Meanwhile, sources within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) also dismissed these claims as baseless, “confirming” that no official from the BCCI has communicated with any Indian news agency regarding this matter.
It is pertinent to mention that the eight-team tournament, comprised of 15 matches, will run from February 19 to March 9, across three venues – Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi in Pakistan, and Dubai.
Hosts Pakistan will take on New Zealand in the curtain-raiser on February 19 in Karachi, while the blockbuster clash between arch-rivals Pakistan and India is scheduled for February 23 in Dubai.
Champions Trophy Schedule:
19 February, Pakistan v New Zealand, Karachi, Pakistan
20 February, Bangladesh v India, Dubai
21 February, Afghanistan v South Africa, Karachi, Pakistan
22 February, Australia v England, Lahore, Pakistan
23 February, Pakistan v India, Dubai
24 February, Bangladesh v New Zealand, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
25 February, Australia v South Africa, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
26 February, Afghanistan v England, Lahore, Pakistan
27 February, Pakistan v Bangladesh, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
28 February, Afghanistan v Australia, Lahore, Pakistan
1 March, South Africa v England, Karachi, Pakistan
2 March, New Zealand v India, Dubai
4 March, Semi-final 1, Dubai
5 March, Semi-final 2, Lahore, Pakistan
9 March, Final, Lahore (unless India qualify, when it will be played in Dubai)
10 March, Reserve day
*All matches will be day-night encounters
