BCCI refuses to print 'Pakistan' on Team India's jerseys for ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Mumbai: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has sparked controversy by refusing to print 'Pakistan,' the official host nation of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, on Team India's jerseys. While the tournament will be held in Pakistan and Dubai, India's matches are scheduled exclusively in Dubai due to the BCCI's earlier refusal to travel to Pakistan, citing security concerns.
A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official criticised the BCCI, accusing it of mixing politics with sports. "BCCI is bringing politics into cricket, which is detrimental to the game. We hope the International Cricket Council (ICC) will intervene and ensure fairness," the official said, as reported by IANS.
India and Pakistan have not played bilateral cricket matches for years due to political tensions, facing each other only in ICC tournaments and the Asia Cup. The ICC adopted a hybrid model for the Champions Trophy after the BCCI declined to play in Pakistan.
Additionally, the PCB claimed that Indian captain Rohit Sharma would not attend the traditional captains' press conference in Pakistan before the tournament. While earlier reports suggested he might attend, the PCB stated that the BCCI remains firm in its stance.
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Opposition raking up Dalit CM issue to divert attention: Karnataka Minister
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Monday accused the opposition of "unnecessarily stoking" the debate over a Dalit Chief Minister to deflect attention from governance.
He asserted that only the Congress has the commitment to elevate a Dalit leader to the top post.
Speaking to reporters here, Parameshwara said the ongoing discussion on a Dalit Chief Minister was being amplified by opposition parties.
“This is the work of the opposition. To hide their own failures, they are raising the issue of the Chief Minister. Isn’t the administration running smoothly? Isn’t the Chief Minister governing?” he asked.
The Minister noted that for the past 10–12 days, detailed budget discussions had been held across departments and governance was progressing normally.
Parameshwara, who is a Dalit, said the Congress alone had the history and political will to make a Dalit Chief Minister.
“Yes, it must be the Congress party. Who else will do it?” he said, while clarifying that the timing of any such decision would be determined by the party high command.
On Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s media statement targeting the JD(S) and invoking social justice, Parameshwara said Siddaramaiah had earlier been part of the JD(S) and even served as its president before being expelled.
He noted that the internal history of that party was best known to those within it and declined to comment on specific internal matters.
Defending the Chief Minister’s ideological position, Parameshwara said Siddaramaiah’s politics had always been rooted in social justice and that there was nothing new or opportunistic about his stance.
The Chief Minister, he said, had consistently built his political career on that foundation.
