PCB Explains Why Pakistan's Name Is Missing From Asia Cup 2023 Jerseys
Pakistan players celebrate an Indian wicket in Asia Cup 2023 (AP)
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has explained why all competing teams in the ongoing Asia Cup 2023 do not have Pakistan’s name mentioned in their playing jerseys.
Pakistan was originally slated to host the tournament in its entirety. However, BCCI refused to send the Indian team to Pakistan owing to the prevailing political tensions between the two countries. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) later decided to allot all Indian matches to Sri Lanka, thus making Pakistan one of the co-hosts of the competition.
Despite being Asia Cup 2023 co-hosts, neither Sri Lanka nor Pakistan’s names are mentioned in any of the competing nations’ jerseys, raising much confusion among cricketing fans from the subcontinent.
PCB clarifies missing name from Asia Cup 2023 jerseys
A source close to the PCB recently revealed that the practice of putting hosts’ name on players jerseys were stopped by the ACC last year. While speaking with the Times of India, the PCB official stated:
“At an Asian Cricket Council meeting last year, it was decided the practice of the hosts’ name on the players’ shirts will be stopped.”
Notably, the name Sri Lanka was mentioned in players’ jerseys during the T20 Asia Cup 2022 back in September last year.
In the meantime, Pakistan became the first team this Asia Cup 2023 to qualify for the Super Four stage of the tournament. After thumping Nepal by 238 runs in Multan, Babar Azam and co. walked away with a point against India following their washout in Kandy.
The Group Stage will conclude on September 5 with a Group B match between Afghanistan and co-hosts Sri Lanka.