BCCI Confirms Rohit Sharma Won't Attend Champions Trophy Captains Meet in Pakistan

Just ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy, the Board of Control for Cricket in India and Pakistan Cricket Board is up against each other again. The BCCI had already refused to send its team to Pakistan for the tournament and wanted India to play its matches in Dubai through a hybrid model. But things have gone further, as the BCCI has stopped captain Rohit Sharma from attending two important events in Pakistan – the captains' press conference and the traditional photo shoot.

The BCCI has asked the ICC to shift both events to Dubai so that Rohit can be present personally, as per the Times of India report. This decision has clearly annoyed the PCB.

"ICC has already made adjustments for India, allowing them to play their matches outside Pakistan, so this is just a minor issue," a source was quoted as saying.

The online debate has once again begun with the BCCI reluctance to have the word 'Pakistan' appear on Team India's jerseys. BCCI is seeking an exception since the matches will be played in Dubai as the ICC rules require the host nation's name to be part of the team's logo.

A PCB official was frustrated saying, "The 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 jerseys. We believe that the world governing body (ICC) will not let this happen and support Pakistan."

It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan's cricket jersey in 2021 T20 World Cup also had the name of India on it, which was hosted in the UAE. If India is acting according to its stance and refuses to have Pakistan's name on their jerseys, it will be violating the ICC's Code of Conduct as well. The start date for the Champions Trophy is set for February 19.