Uncertainty is growing over whether Team India captain Rohit Sharma will travel to Pakistan for the upcoming opening ceremony of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) remains hopeful that Rohit Sharma will attend the captain’s photo shoot and pre-event press conference.
The event’s opening ceremony is scheduled to take place on February 16 or 17. The PCB is awaiting confirmation from the International Cricket Council regarding the schedule for the captain’s photo shoot and press conference. All eight team captains are expected to attend the ceremony in Pakistan.
Pakistan eyeing Rohit Sharma’s visit for ICC Champions Trophy 2025
According to a PTI report, the Pakistan Cricket Board is hopeful that Rohit Sharma will attend the Champions Trophy event in Pakistan. The PCB has received the necessary government approvals to issue visas to all visiting captains, players and team officials attending pre-tournament events.
“This obviously includes Rohit or any other Indian team player or official or board official,” the source said.
BCCI is yet to issue an official statement on Rohit Sharma’s visit to Pakistan
If it happens, it will be the first time in over a decade that an active Indian cricketer has visited Pakistan. According to ICC rules, all team captains must attend the opening ceremony of the Champions Trophy.
There were earlier speculations about Rohit traveling to Pakistan for the opening ceremony and captain’s photo shoot. Discussions about his possible visit have been raised as India will not play a single match in Pakistan. But the BCCI has not yet made an official statement on the matter.
Team India is ready to play the Champions Trophy matches in Dubai
The Indian national cricket team will play their Champions Trophy matches in Dubai instead of traveling to Pakistan due to ongoing political tensions. The marquee tournament will be held on a hybrid model after the Indian government and the BCCI refused to send their team to Pakistan, citing security concerns.
Pakistan has agreed to host all events in India from 2024 to 2027 at neutral venues. The eight-team tournament will run from February 19 to March 9, with matches to be played in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi, while all India-related matches will be held in Dubai. India and Pakistan will face off in Dubai on February 23.
Former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali has urged Rohit Sharma to visit Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Basit expressed doubt whether Rohit would attend the opening ceremony. He said Rohit might want to see him go, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) might stop him.
“When the World Cup happened, Babar Azam and Kane Williamson took a flight and went to Australia together. Will Rohit Sharma come to Pakistan? He should. He should come to the ICC event. I want him to come and he would have the desire. Maybe he will too to give a reason that ties with Pakistan are not good,” Basit said.
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