Why Team India Players Will Have Pakistan's Name On Their Jersey?

image-ll57wj9lIndian team holding the 2018 Asia Cup trophy (AP)

Team India will don Pakistan’s name for the first time in their jerseys, when they take field in the upcoming ODI Asia Cup.

Notably, the much-awaited continental event will be co-hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and will be played between August 30 and September 17.

Team India’s jersey indicates Pakistan as sole hosts

The 2023 ODI Asia Cup was originally intended to be played in Pakistan. However, owing to Pakistan’s prevailing geo-political tensions with India, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) expressed their reluctance in sending a team to their neighboring nation.

Some of the tournament’s matches, including all of Team India’s fixtures, were eventually allotted to Sri Lanka.

Even though the island nation is co-hosting the event with Pakistan, the Indian jersey for the competition indicates Pakistan being the tournament’s sole hosts.

The much-awaited 2023 Asia Cup will kick-off with a Group A match between Nepal and co-hosts Pakistan at the Multan Cricket Stadium on August 30. Pakistan’s subsequent fixture will be their blockbuster clash against India, set to be played out in Kandy’s Pallekele Stadium on September 2.

Bangladesh, Afghanistan and hosts Sri Lanka constitutes Group B of the competition.

The group stage will be followed by a Super Four round, scheduled to be played between September 6 and September 15 across Lahore and Colombo. Meanwhile, the latter of the two stadiums will also host the title clash on September 17.