For the past few days, there has been speculation that Indian captain Rohit Sharma is traveling to Pakistan to take part in the customary pre-tournament captains’ meet. Some reports claimed that Rohit made at least one appearance in Pakistan for this match.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has finally broken its silence on the matter. Newly elected board secretary Devajit Saikia spoke openly about Rohit’s participation in the captain’s meeting and claimed that he has not received any such proposal so far.
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BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia breaks his silence on Rohit Sharma’s Pakistan trip
While talking to The Telegraph, Devajit Saikia mentioned that it was not part of the discussions with the ICC which means there is little chance of Rohit Sharma traveling to the Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
“We have not received any such proposal. This was not part of our discussions with the ICC,” Saikia said.
Devajit Saikia was recently appointed as the new secretary of the BCCI. He replaced Jay Shah, who stepped down to become the new president of the ICC. Shah’s term as ICC president began on December 1, 2024.
While Saikia did not confirm Rohit Sharma’s participation in the captain’s meeting, a close source called it a very delicate situation and felt that India must find a compromise formula to resolve the crisis as Pakistan is the host.
This is a very delicate situation and every step must be taken after assessing its consequences. India has to find a compromise formula to resolve the crisis as Pakistan will enjoy certain benefits of being the host,” a source told The Telegraph.
The opening ceremony will be held in Pakistan
According to PTI, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has already made it clear to the International Cricket Council (ICC) that the 2025 Champions Trophy opening ceremony will not be shifted from Pakistan.
The captains of all participating nations will perform at the ceremony. The PCB is planning a grand ceremony for the Champions Trophy to celebrate the return of the ICC event to Pakistan after a long gap of 29 years. Pakistan last hosted an ICC event in 1996 when they hosted the ODI World Cup.
Champions Trophy 2025 Schedule
The 2025 Champions Trophy will be played in Pakistan and UAE in a hybrid model. All the matches of the tournament, except the one for India, will be held in three Pakistani cities – Lahore, Rawalpindi and Karachi.
The Champions Trophy will be played from February 19 to March 9. The opening match will be played between hosts Pakistan and New Zealand on February 19 in Karachi, while the final will be played in Lahore or Dubai, depending on India’s availability.
India will play all their 2025 Champions Trophy matches in Dubai after their government refused permission for the team to travel to Pakistan. If India manages to qualify for the knockout stage, the matches will continue to be held in Dubai.
