Dubai, January 23, 2025: Uncertainty looms over Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma’s participation in the ICC Champions Trophy pre-event captains’ meeting, scheduled to take place in Karachi next month. With the tournament set to begin on February 19 across Pakistan and the UAE, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has yet to confirm whether Sharma will travel to Pakistan for the traditional captains’ event.
According to a report by Cricinfo, the BCCI has not included Sharma’s attendance on its agenda, leaving the matter unresolved. Devjeet Saikia, the newly-appointed BCCI Secretary, stated that no decision has been made and declined to comment on whether government approval would be required for Sharma’s travel to Pakistan.
The captains’ meeting, a customary prelude to ICC tournaments, is planned for February 16 or 17 in Karachi. However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has formally requested the ICC to ensure full participation of all captains in pre-tournament activities, including the photoshoot and opening ceremony.
This development comes amid strained relations between India and Pakistan. The two nations have not engaged in bilateral cricket since 2012, with the last Indian team visit to Pakistan occurring during the 2008 Asia Cup. While Indian players have not officially traveled to Pakistan in recent years, BCCI officials Roger Binny and Rajiv Shukla visited Lahore in 2023 for a PCB-hosted dinner during the Asia Cup, marking a rare instance of cross-border engagement.
For the Champions Trophy, logistical arrangements are being finalized, and teams may play two warm-up matches upon arrival. Matches will be held in Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Dubai, with all of India’s group-stage games scheduled in Dubai. A semi-final and the final (if India qualifies) will also take place in Dubai due to ongoing political tensions. In contrast to the traditional approach, the ICC skipped the captains’ event for the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup, instead launching the tournament with a projection display at New York’s Rockefeller Center. Whether a similar alternative will be adopted for the Champions Trophy remains to be seen.
