Pakistan writes ‘UAE 2021’ instead of ‘India 2021’ on their T20 World Cup jersey

The upcoming T20 World Cup is just around the corner and the participating teams have started unveiling their special jerseys for the showpiece event, which is being hosted by India in the UAE.

However, a huge controversy has started to erupt with Pakistan at the centre of it.

Notably, a picture of Pakistan’s T20 World Cup jersey is being shared widely on social media. Going against the rules, the Pakistan’s jersey has mentioned ‘UAE 2021’ as the hosts which should have been ‘India 2021’.

As per the rules, on the top right of the jersey, all the teams need to mention the name of the ICC event and also the hosts.

Going by it, ‘ICC Men’s T20 World Cup India 2021’ should be written on the jersey of every team as even though the tournament is being played in the UAE, India are the official hosts of the showpiece event.

However, Pakistan have written ‘ICC Men’s T20 World Cup UAE 2021’ on their jersey which might not just upset the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the original hosts of the event, but could also spark a controversy.

A picture which has gone viral on social media, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam is seen donning the team’s jersey, which has UAE being mentioned as the hosts.

Although, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is yet to unveil the jersey officially, it remains to be seen if the International Cricket Council (ICC) or BCCI ask them to make any changes to it.

The T20 World Cup is set to start on October 17 in Muscat and will conclude on November 14 in the UAE.

In the showpiece event, Bangladesh, Ireland and 2014 winners Sri Lanka will be competing alongside Namibia, Netherlands, Oman, Papua New Guinea, and Scotland for a place in the Super 12 stage which features Afghanistan, Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, and West Indies.

Earlier in June, the ICC had officially confirmed that the upcoming T20 World Cup will not be played in India and instead the BCCI only will host the tournament in the United Arab Emirates and Oman.

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly had said that considering the uncertainty due to the COVID-19 situation in the country, it was tough for them to take the decision of not holding it in India.

The BCCI remained the hosts of the event, which will now be held across four venues – Dubai International Stadium, the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, the Sharjah Stadium, and the Oman Cricket Academy Ground.

The first round of the tournament, comprising the eight qualifying teams, was divided between Oman and UAE.

“The BCCI is looking forward to hosting the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 tournament in UAE and Oman,” Ganguly had said.

“We would have been happier hosting it in India but considering the uncertainty due to the Covid 19 situation and the importance of a world championship, the BCCI will now continue to host this tournament in UAE and Oman. The BCCI is looking forward to creating a spectacle,” he had added.

The upcoming edition will be the first Men’s T20 World Cup played since 2016, when West Indies beat England in the final in India.

News Desk

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