There is still uncertainty about whether India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, will travel to Pakistan for the ICC’s official captains’ event ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy. The event is tentatively scheduled for February 16 or 17 in Karachi, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not yet received official communication from the ICC regarding the matter.
Devjit Saikia, the newly-appointed BCCI secretary, confirmed that the issue has not yet been discussed and is not on the agenda. Due to ongoing political tensions, India and Pakistan have not played bilateral series since 2012, though they continue to meet at ICC events. While Pakistan has visited India for ICC tournaments in recent years, India has not played any international cricket in Pakistan since 2008.
Following the BCCI’s stance that India will not travel to Pakistan for matches, the ICC and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) devised a hybrid model for ICC events until 2027, where India’s Champions Trophy games will be held in Dubai. While no precedent exists for an Indian player visiting Pakistan in an official capacity, BCCI officials, such as Roger Binny and Rajiv Shukla, visited Lahore in 2023 for an official PCB dinner during the Asia Cup.
The PCB has reportedly requested the ICC to ensure that all teams and captains are present for the Champions Trophy’s photoshoot, opening ceremony, and pre-tournament engagements. The ICC is still finalizing the logistics and travel dates for the teams. Notably, the ICC did not organize a captains’ event before the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup, opting for a lighting projection show in New York City instead.
In other news, Saikia confirmed that the BCCI will adhere to the ICC’s uniform guidelines for the Champions Trophy, dismissing speculation that the board had objected to the host nation’s name being included on their jerseys. “BCCI will follow every uniform-related ICC rule during the Champions Trophy,” he assured.
