The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had earlier insisted that they wouldn’t feature the host country, Pakistan’s name, on the jerseys for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. Prior to this, they had successfully avoided playing in Pakistan. However, this time, the International Cricket Council (ICC) did not give in to BCCI’s demands. The ICC made it clear that the name of the host country must be on the jersey, leaving BCCI with little room to maneuver. Just three days ago, BCCI’s new secretary, Devajit Saikia, confirmed that they would comply with ICC’s directives and include the host country’s name on the jersey.
However, the ICC did not take a similarly firm stance when India raised objections to playing in Pakistan earlier. It was a case of “turning a blind eye,” allowing India to hold its ground. The outcome? A hybrid model for the Champions Trophy. Teams playing against India will compete in the UAE, while the rest of the tournament will be held in Pakistan.
This arrangement forces participating teams to shuttle between Pakistan and the UAE. Despite the logistical challenges and fairness concerns, the ICC failed to take a strong position. The current ICC chairman, Jay Shah, is the son of India’s Home Minister Amit Shah, which has led to perceptions of undue influence. Even under Greg Barclay’s chairmanship, the BCCI’s dominance remained unchallenged. The ICC has often appeared to be a bystander, unwilling to take action.
India’s resistance whenever Pakistan is involved is nothing new. Unfortunately, other teams are often caught in the middle of this conflict. Yet, there seems to be no effort to resolve the issue. The Champions Trophy has further magnified the on-field rivalry between India and Pakistan. It has been decided that neither team will travel to the other’s country for international matches. Instead, their games will take place in neutral venues. For instance, while Pakistan is hosting the Champions Trophy, India’s matches will be played in the UAE.
A similar scenario unfolded during the Asia Cup, where India’s matches were held in Sri Lanka. Day by day, India’s political influence on cricket is growing. The ICC has the authority to put an end to this, and if Jay Shah, in his current role, takes action, it would set a remarkable precedent for cricket’s governance and integrity.
