Asia Cup 2023 Controversy news highlights today
Controversy Erupts: Pakistan’s Name Missing from Asia Cup Jerseys Amid Host Confusion
Asia Cup Logo Scandal: Pakistan’s Absence Sparks Outrage Among Cricket Veterans
Asia Cup 2023 Turmoil: Pakistan’s Name Vanishes from Jerseys, Ignites PCB Backlash
Host Nation Erased: PCB Faces Criticism over Missing Pakistan Emblem on Asia Cup Jerseys
Jerseygate: PCB Under Fire as Pakistan’s Name Disappears from Asia Cup Attire
Cricket Upheaval: Former Players Slam PCB for Omission of Pakistan on Asia Cup Jerseys
Asia Cup 2023 Controversy: Former and ACC Over Missing Host Nation Name on Jerseys
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is facing significant criticism from cricket enthusiasts and former players due to the notable absence of Pakistan’s name on the official Asia Cup logo featured on the jerseys of participating teams.
While Pakistan is the designated host for the Asia Cup 2023 tournament, Sri Lanka has been chosen as an additional venue for matches, following India’s refusal to play in Pakistan.
The tournament schedule includes four matches hosted by Pakistan, one of which is a Super 4s game. Sri Lanka will host the remaining matches, including all of India’s fixtures and the final scheduled for September 17.
Recently, participating teams, including Pakistan, unveiled their jerseys for the tournament. Observant fans immediately noticed that the ‘Pakistan 2023’ label, typically placed beneath the Asia Cup logo on the right side of the jersey for the host nation, was conspicuously absent. Instead, this year’s jerseys only feature the official Asia Cup logo near the right shoulder, with no reference to the host country.
This departure from tradition sharply contrasts with the previous edition, where Sri Lanka was named as the host nation, even though the Asia Cup took place in the United Arab Emirates. In that instance, Sri Lanka’s name appeared beneath the Asia Cup logo on the jerseys of all participating teams.
Former Pakistani players have expressed their dissatisfaction with the PCB over this omission. Rashid Latif, a former captain, criticized the oversight and emphasized that the Asia Cup was jointly organized by Pakistan and Sri Lanka, with Pakistan serving as the official host.
Latif stated, “This is unacceptable, and it is the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) that must explain this lapse since the Asia Cup is under their purview.”
Meanwhile, Mohsin Khan called on the Asian Cricket Council to clarify the situation, saying, “The ACC should provide a clear explanation for this discrepancy.”
The PCB has attempted to downplay the issue by attributing the omission to a decision made by the ACC following the previous year’s Asia Cup.
An unnamed Pakistani player suggested that Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary and ACC president, may have played a role in the decision. Due to the tense relations between India and Pakistan, Indian team members may have felt uncomfortable wearing jerseys bearing Pakistan’s name.
Rashid Latif did not dismiss this possibility and stressed that the incident was not only embarrassing but also required further clarification, saying, “Given the current scenario between the two countries, perhaps the BCCI official felt it would be embarrassing for the Indian team players to wear kits with the name of Pakistan on the official Asia Cup logo.
Gautam Gambhir Take on IND vs PAK: ‘No Need for Babar Azam to Send a Message | Asia Cup 2023 Controversy
Gautam Gambhir, a seasoned Indian opener, has expressed admiration for Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, lauding his consistent batting performances across different formats. Notably, Babar is currently the only batsman ranked within the top 5 of ICC Rankings across all formats. He commenced the Asia Cup 2023 campaign with an impressive 151-run innings against Nepal. However, Gambhir believes that Babar’s true test will come when he faces the Indian pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, and Mohammed Siraj.
The highly anticipated clash between India and Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2023 is set to take place on Saturday.
Gautam Gambhir, a key figure in India’s 2011 World Cup-winning team, asserts that Babar Azam doesn’t need to convey any particular message, as he has already demonstrated his capabilities with 19 centuries in 104 ODIs.
“Babar Azam doesn’t need to send a message. He has already conveyed his message through the 104 matches he has played. Scoring 19 centuries in 104 matches is a remarkable feat, and I believe he ranks among the top two or three players in all formats. So, there’s no need for him to send a message,” remarked Gambhir during a discussion on Star Sports.
Furthermore, Gambhir indicated that India would field their three premier fast bowlers, namely Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, and Mohammed Siraj, after a considerable period. This formidable pace trio is expected to pose a significant challenge to Babar in the upcoming showdown.
“It’s going to be an exciting contest. Babar Azam will face the Indian fast-bowling trio. After a considerable time, we will witness an Indian attack where all three bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, and Mohammed Siraj, can thoroughly examine Babar Azam,” Gambhir added.
Gambhir emphasized that Babar’s ultimate test would unfold against the Indian bowling lineup during the ongoing Asia Cup.
“Babar Azam’s true examination won’t occur against teams like Nepal, Sri Lanka, or Bangladesh; it will take place against India. Such exceptional players always aspire to test themselves against top-tier bowling,” he concluded.