Champions Trophy 2025: Indian cricket team's jersey unveiled, but does it include Pakistan?
The unveiling featured Indian cricket stars Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh posing in the new blue kit. However, it was not the jersey's design but whether the host country Pakistan's name was included in the jersey that drew attention.
The unveiling showed Pakistan's name was included in the jersey ending weeks of speculation and controversy.
Earlier, Indian media reports suggested the team's jersey would omit Pakistan's name due to ongoing political tensions.
This fuelled debate, as ICC regulations mandate all participating teams display the tournament's official logo, including the host nation's name, regardless of where matches are played.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) later confirmed that the team would adhere to ICC rules, dispelling concerns over non-compliance.
Photos shared by the ICC showed Indian players wearing jerseys featuring the official Champions Trophy logo with 'Pakistan' inscribed, marking the first time in years that an Indian kit has displayed Pakistan's name.
A similar debate arose during the Asia Cup 2023, which Pakistan hosted, leading to the Asian Cricket Council's decision to exclude the host name from the tournament logo.
The Champions Trophy 2025 kicks off on February 19, with hosts Pakistan playing New Zealand in the opening match in Karachi.
While Pakistan will host games on home soil, India will play all its matches in Dubai, including a highly anticipated clash against Pakistan on February 23.
Moreover, India suffered a setback ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 as bowling coach Morne Morkel left the team in Dubai and returned home due to personal reasons.
While the exact cause remains unconfirmed, speculation suggests the passing of his father.
Morkel's departure could disrupt India's bowling preparations, with Mohammed Shami struggling for form and Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana lacking experience in ODIs.
Morkel, who has served as India's bowling coach since last August, arrived in the UAE with the Indian team on 15 February and attended the training session at the ICC Academy on 16 February.
However, he was absent from the session on 17 February before reportedly flying back to South Africa.
There is no clarity on whether he will return for the tournament.
India's bowling concerns
Morkel's absence adds to India's concerns, as Jasprit Bumrah is not part of the squad and Shami has been struggling with form.
With India set to face Bangladesh on 20 February, the team, led by Rohit Sharma, is expected to train on 19 February after a scheduled break.
India's squad for Champions Trophy 2025
Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakravarthy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
8 hours ago
- Express Tribune
ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 qualifiers to be held in Nepal
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed Nepal as the host for the Women's T20 World Cup 2026 Qualifier, set to take place from January 12 to February 2, 2026. The tournament will see ten teams competing for four coveted spots in the main event, which will be held in England and Wales later in the same year. Bangladesh and Ireland have earned automatic spots in the Qualifier by virtue of their participation in the 2024 ICC Women's T20 World Cup. Additionally, Thailand and Nepal secured their places through the Asia regional pathway, while the USA clinched their spot from the Americas region. The remaining five teams will qualify through regional qualifiers in Africa, Europe, and the East Asia-Pacific region. The Qualifier will be played in a round-robin format with the ten teams divided into two groups of five. Following the group stage, the tournament will move into a Super Six phase before culminating in the final. The full fixture details will be released closer to the tournament. The announcement comes as preparations for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 in England and Wales continue. The marquee tournament will run from June 12 to July 5, 2026, with 33 matches across 24 days. Seven venues, including Old Trafford, Headingley, Hampshire Bowl, and Bristol County Ground, will host the matches, with the grand finale set to take place at the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground.
Express Tribune
17 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Stokes, Jadeja prosper in ICC rankings
All-rounders Ben Stokes and Ravindra Jadeja have made substantial gains in the ICC Men's Test Player Rankings after their fine performances with both bat and ball in the drawn fourth Test of the ICC World Test Championship series between England and India. England captain Stokes has progressed three places to third position among all-rounders, his highest position since December 2022. The formerly top-ranked all-rounder's knock of 141 in England's only innings and a haul of six wickets that included a five-for in the first innings, has also helped him move up eight slots to 34th among batters and up from 45th to 42nd among bowlers. Jadeja has inflated his lead at the top of the rankings for all-rounders after grabbing four wickets and scoring a fighting 107 not out. He has added 13 rating points and is now on an aggregate of 422, 117 rating points clear of Bangladesh's Mehidy Hasan. He has also moved up five places to 29th among batters and up one place to 14th among bowlers. Joe Root's score of 150 at Old Trafford has increased his lead at the top of the batting rankings to 37 rating points over second-placed Kane Williamson, while openers Ben Duckett (up five places to 10th) and Zak Crawley (up two places to 43rd) have also made notable progress. Ollie Pope has inched up to 24th position. India all-rounder Washington Sundar's unbeaten 101 in the second innings during which he put on 203 runs with Jadeja for the unbroken fifth wicket that helped India draw the Test, has helped him climb up eight places to 65th position. Sundar has also moved up eight positions to joint-13th among all-rounders, having also taken two wickets in the match. The Test bowling rankings see fast bowler Jofra Archer continue his impressive return after four years, his haul of three for 73 lifting him 38 places to 63rd position. Chris Woakes is up one place to 23rd after finishing with three wickets in the match, which included a double-strike early in the Indian second innings. Abhishek becomes top T20I batter India batter Abhishek Sharma has become the top batter in the shortest international format as Travis Head lost his year-long reign at the top after missing the series in the West Indies that Australia won 5-0. Josh Inglis's 172 runs in the five-match series, including two half-centuries, has helped him up six places to ninth position, while Tim David (up 12 places to 18th) and Cameron Green (up 64 places to 24th) have attained career-bests. For the West Indies, Brandon King is up nine places to joint-21st. The top seven bowlers are unchanged with Jacob Duffy holding on to the top spot as he helped New Zealand win the Zimbabwe International Tri-Series with six wickets. Australia fast bowler Nathan Ellis has moved up seven places to eighth position. ICC
Express Tribune
17 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Australia announce squads for SA series
Mitch Owen has been rewarded for his fine form in his first five Twenty20 Internationals. Photo: AFP Cricket Australia announced its T20I and ODI squads for the upcoming home series against South Africa on Wednesday. The series will begin with a three-match T20I series on August 10, followed by three ODIs in northern Australia. Young all-rounder Mitchell Owen has received his maiden ODI call-up after a strong start in the T20 format against the West Indies earlier this year. The 23-year-old impressed with 125 runs at a strike rate of 192.30 in the Caribbean series, which included a half-century on debut in Jamaica. Owen also underlined his limited overs credentials last season when he smashed 149 off just 69 deliveries for Tasmania in the One-Day Cup. Fast bowler Lance Morris has been recalled to the 50-over squad after his last appearance against Pakistan in November. The Australia pacer has battled back injuries in recent seasons, has been carefully managed by the selectors but remains highly regarded as an all-format prospect. Morris claimed 13 wickets at 20.84 in last season's Sheffield Shield and 15 wickets in eight outings for Perth Scorchers in the BBL. The selectors have also brought back Travis Head and Josh Hazlewood for both formats after the pair were rested during the West Indies series. Matt Short has recovered from the side strain that kept him out of that series and returns to the fold. Regular captain Pat Cummins and fast bowler Mitchell Starc will miss both series as they continue to rest ahead of the home summer. Mitchell Marsh will continue to lead the ODI side in Cummins' absence. While Marnus Labuschagne has retained his place in the ODI squad despite missing out on selection for the Test series against the West Indies. Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Cooper Connolly and Xavier Bartlett have been left out of the T20I squad, although Bartlett has earned a place in the ODIs. Fraser-McGurk played only one match after joining the squad as a late replacement, while Connolly struggled with scores of 13 and zero across his two innings. Hardie produced two useful knocks, including helping secure victory in the final match of the West Indies series. From the ODI squad that last featured in the Champions Trophy in March, Fraser-McGurk, Connolly, Hardie, Sean Abbott and Tanveer Sangha have all been omitted, along with injured paceman Spencer Johnson. The matches against South Africa will be Australia's first in the format since the retirements of Steven Smith and Glenn Maxwell from one-day cricket. The series between Australia and South Africa will begin with the T20Is, with the first two matches scheduled in Darwin on August 10 and 12, followed by the final game in Cairns on August 16. The ODI series will start on August 19, with the opening match in Cairns, before concluding with two games in Mackay on August 22 and 24. Australia T20I squad: Mitchell Marsh (captain), Sean Abbott, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matt Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Owen, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa. Australia ODI squad: Mitchell Marsh (captain), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Lance Morris, Mitchell Owen, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa.
