The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) finds itself embroiled in controversy as fans and former players criticise the omission of Pakistan's name from the official Asia Cup logo on participating teams' jerseys. The absence of the host country's name has raised questions and prompted strong reactions from cricket enthusiasts and ex-players alike.
Former captain Rashid Latif was among the vocal critics, expressing his disappointment with the PCB's decision. The controversy emerged when Pakistan took on Nepal in the Asia Cup's opening match in Multan. While the tournament is jointly organized by Pakistan and Sri Lanka, it is Pakistan that serves as the host for the event. Latif emphasized that the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), which owns the Asia Cup, must address this oversight.
Although the PCB has attempted to downplay the situation by citing a decision made by the ACC after the previous year's Asia Cup, where the host country's name would not appear alongside the Asia Cup logo in future events, many Pakistani cricket fans remain unconvinced. The social media outcry reflects skepticism towards this explanation. Notably, fans and critics point out that the ACC displayed the host country's name on logos for events like the Asian Emerging Nations Cup and the Asian Under-16 Championship in July in Malaysia.
Former Test batsman Mohsin Khan raised a pertinent question by challenging the inconsistency in the ACC's stance. He stressed that the ACC should provide clarity and dispel confusion surrounding this issue.
Another former player, who chose to remain anonymous, hinted at a possible political dimension behind the logo omission. This source speculated that Jay Shah, President of the ACC and Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), might be a key factor in excluding Pakistan's name from the official logo. Given the prevailing dynamics between the two countries, it is suggested that the BCCI official might have considered it uncomfortable for the Indian team to wear jerseys with Pakistan's name on the logo.
Latif also acknowledged this potential scenario, highlighting the embarrassment and uncertainty generated by the logo omission. As the controversy gains momentum, cricket enthusiasts and observers await further clarification from both the PCB and the ACC regarding the decision-making process and the underlying reasons behind the omission.
