After reports around skipper Rohit Sharma not opting to travel to Pakistan for the ceremony to Pakistan, a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official has finally broken silence on the matter.

Speaking with IANS on Monday, January 20, a PCB official expressed concerns over Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)'s alleged decision to not send their skipper for the opening ceremony of the marquee event to Pakistan.

It is to be noted that Rohit Sharma was expected to attend the customary captains' photo shoot and the pre-event press conference in Pakistan prior to the Champions Trophy 2025. This comes after the BCCI stayed firm on its decision to not travel to Pakistan for the 50-over tournament, kickstarting from February 19. However, Team India will play all its matches in Dubai after the PCB was forced to host the tournament in a hybrid model.

No 'Pakistan' on Team India jersey leaves PCB fuming after Rohit Sharma snubbing CT opening ceremony: Reports

While Rohit Sharma's travel to Pakistan remains one point, in another move, the Indian cricket team has reportedly refrained from getting 'Pakistan' printed on their jersey for the marquee tournament. Seeing the two points which have added a fresh controversy ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025, a PCB official said that they are trying to bring politics in cricket.

https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=Dailyhuntapp&dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-9&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1881260209123070115&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fm.dailyhunt.in%2Fnews%2Findia%2Fenglish%2Ffor%2Byou%3Flaunch%3Dtrue%26mode%3Dpwa&sessionId=ad43460f88514ed793ad1ca55df6875d9081a65e&siteScreenName=Dailyhuntapp&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px

'BCCI is bringing politics into cricket, which is not at all good for the game. They refused to travel to Pakistan. They don't want to send their captain (to Pakistan) for the opening ceremony, now there are reports that they don't want the host nation's (Pakistan) name printed on their jersey. We believe that the world governing body (ICC) will not let this happen and support Pakistan," a PCB official told IANS on Monday.

While all this rests at one place, Team India on Saturday, January 18 announced 15-member preliminary squad for the marquee tournament, set to be played in Pakistan and the UAE from February 19 onwards. Rohit Sharma-led India are placed in Group A alongside Bangladesh, arch-rivals Pakistan and New Zealand. They will open their campaign on February 20 when they take on Bangladesh at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai.