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‘Too much politics’ in PCB, admits Zaka Ashraf

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  • Central contract linked with players’ performance, says PCB chief.
  • Zaka Ashraf says assured Babar of full cooperation before WC 2023.
  • PCB will hold performance review after mega tournament.

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Zaka Ashraf on Monday said that there’s “too much politics” in the board.

Zaka Ashraf’s comments came in an interview on Geo News show Score where he spoke at length about the team’s prospects in the ICC World Cup 2023, central contracts, and the Pakistan Super League schedule.

In response to a question, he said that the PCB is rife with politics without elaborating further.

The PCB chief hoped that Pakistan would do well in the mega tournament. “We will take more important and big decisions on the basis of the team’s performance in the WC.”

Recently, the Pakistan players were given a massive hike in contracts with skipper Babar Azam, Muhammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi having an increment of 202% along with other benefits.

Ashraf said that he had assured Babar Azam of his full cooperation and added that the three-year contract is tied to players’ performance, hinting that it can be terminated in case of poor results.

When asked about the Pakistan Super League’s ninth edition, the PCB chief said that it is not yet decided and a final decision in this regard will be taken in due course according to the situation.

“Players are allowed to play two additional leagues besides PSL and the [PCB] chair will grant NOC not the chief selector [Inzamamul Haq].”

“I will ask Inzamam-ul-Haq how his son got selected in the squad for the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy without performance,” Zaka Ashraf said. 

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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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