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Babar Azam dethrones Shubman Gill to reclaim top ODI spot

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Pakistan’s top batsman and former skipper Babar Azam has once again clinched the number one position in the ICC ODI rankings for batsmen, dethroning India’s Shubman Gill.

As per the ICC ranking, Babar has 824 points, 14 more than the Indian opener’s 810. Interestingly, the third and fourth spots of the list are also occupied by Indian batsmen, Virat Kohli, 775, and Rohit Sharma, 754, respectively.

Babar Azam climbed the top slot after more than a month of Gill’s rule and after the latter was rested for the ongoing Proteas series.

On the other hand, England leg-spinner Adil Rashid has ascended two spots to grab the top post from Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan (now second) and India’s Ravi Bishnoi (third) on the T20I rankings for bowlers.

Rashid is the second player from England to bag the No 1 ranking of T20I bowlers after off-spinner Graeme Swann held the top spot more than a decade ago.

After scoring a quick century in the final match of India’s series against South Africa, Suryakumar Yadav extended his lead by 100 rating points in T20I. His nearest competitors are Mohammad Rizwan of Pakistan (2nd) and Aiden Markram (3rd) of South Africa.

After his performance against Pakistan lately, Australia’s Usman Khawaja has moved up three places to fourth spot in the Test and within striking reach of the top-ranked Kane Williamson.

Khawaja’s teammate David Warner has also jumped nine spots to 27th and Mitchell Marsh improved 12 places to equal 68th after a good performance against Pakistan.

In the Test bowler’s rankings, Australia’s captain Pat Cummins is up one place to third, Nathan Lyon jumped three spots to fifth, Mitchell Starc rose two places to eighth and Josh Hazlewood has climbed two spots to 10th as India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin continues to hold sway at the top.

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The BCCI has confirmed that Pakistan’s name will be on India’s jersey during the Champions Trophy.

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On Wednesday, the BCCI confirmed that Pakistan’s name would be put on India’s shirt.

According to Indian media, India’s shirt would incorporate the Champions Trophy emblem, which has been approved by the ICC. The Indian team will adhere to the International Cricket Council’s mega-event criteria.

The BCCI has underlined that the Indian squad will respect the ICC’s norms.

It is worth noting that the Champions Trophy begins on February 19.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) urged the ICC to severely enforce the BCCI’s policies.

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The Indian team must have the “Pakistan” logo on their uniforms, the ICC warns the BCCI.

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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has received a warning from the International Cricket Council about its unwillingness to include the logo of Pakistan on the trophy kits of its winning team.

The International Cricket Council has given a strong message to the Indian board on this, according to Indian NDTV.

As part of its host nation policy, the Indian board claimed that it was not interested in having Pakistan’s name appear on their team uniform. However, the ICC rejected this claim.

In reality, the ICC has urged the Indian board to clarify that, since the country was the tournament’s original host, the Indian squad must have “Pakistan” printed on their uniform.

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BCCI disregards tradition; Pakistan absent from Champions Trophy 2025 jerseys

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India’s preparations for the forthcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 have been marred by tensions between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

In a deviation from convention, the Indian team, captained by Rohit Sharma, would omit Pakistan’s name off their shirts, despite the event being hosted by Pakistan.

This action occurs against a backdrop of intensifying political and security conflicts between the two cricketing powerhouses.

Although the Champions Trophy is scheduled to occur in Pakistan, India has chosen to establish its squad in Dubai, citing persistent security apprehensions in the host country. This move has faced criticism from the PCB, which saw it as a diplomatic affront.

A PCB official denounced the action, alleging that the BCCI is politicizing cricket. The official stated, “India’s refusal to participate in Pakistan, coupled with their decision to withhold their captain from the opening ceremony, constitutes a direct affront to the event’s integrity.”

The omission of Pakistan’s name from the Indian squad’s shirts is perceived as an effort to diminish the host nation, representing a departure from the customary inclusion of the host country’s name on team attire.

The official articulated apprehensions that these measures would compromise the integrity of the competition. The BCCI is introducing politics into cricket, which is harmful to the sport. They declined to travel to Pakistan and are now unwilling to send their skipper to the opening ceremony. Reports indicate that they prefer not to feature the host nation’s name on their shirts. The official expressed a desire for the ICC to intervene and avert additional politicization, urging the sport’s governing body to take action.

The rivalry escalates as the two nations ready themselves for a critical confrontation in the tournament. India’s group-stage itinerary features a highly anticipated encounter with Pakistan on February 23, succeeded by a match against New Zealand on March 2. This event will signify India’s reentry into ICC play since their 2013 Champions Trophy victory under former captain MS Dhoni.

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