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Babar, Shaheen, Rizwan silence rumour-mongers by sending message of ‘unity’

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Pakistan cricket team skipper Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi dispelled the reports of an “internal rift” by sending a message of unity among them to the rumour-mongers.

The star trio were reportedly seen talking to each other in a pleasant mood ahead of the Afghanistan match on Monday.

According to a Daily Jang special correspondent, the three players were present in the dugout at the start of the Afghanistan match on Monday.

The report stated that Shaheen and Rizwan were sitting on Babar’s right and left respectively to show the unity among them amid reports of discord between the senior players of the team.

Some social media users had claimed that some players in the squad exchanged harsh words amid the poor performance of the team in the last couple of matches.

Pakistan have lost the last three matches putting their World Cup 2023 campaign at risk.

In response, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) “strongly” denied recent speculations about any internal discord in the national cricket team currently participating in World Cup 2023.

“Contrary to rumours circulated by a certain section of the media, the PCB unequivocally assures that the team is cohesive and there is no evidence to support these unsubstantiated claims,” the statement added.

The PCB further said that it is disappointed by the dissemination of this false news and emphasised the importance of upholding journalistic ethics before spreading such allegations.

Babar Azam dejected

The team is under fire after three consecutive losses against India, Australia and Afghanistan.

Skipper Babar Azam was visibly shaken in the post-match press conference and admitted: “We are hurt as a team”.

Afghanistan achieved their first-ever one-day victory over Pakistan in eight attempts as they chased down a 283-run target with an over to spare.

“We must feel the disappointment and my message to my team for the remaining matches will be to learn from this defeat,” said Azam, whose 74 off 95 balls aided by opener Abdullah Shafique´s 58 guided Pakistan to 282-7 after they won the toss and batted.

“We achieved what we set out to do when we batted but we were not up to the mark in bowling and fielding,” said Azam whose bowlers conceded 17 boundaries in the first 16 overs.

“We failed to put them under pressure but I congratulate Afghanistan for this victory.”

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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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