There have been several speculations on whether Rohit Sharma would travel to Pakistan for the captains’ meeting of the Champions Trophy 2025. Since the BCCI was against the Indian team’s travel to Pakistan to host the Champions Trophy, the tournament was shifted to a hybrid model in which all of India’s games would be in Dubai
Then came the issue as to whether Rohit Sharma would travel to Pakistan for a pre-tournament captains’ meeting-a regular practice before any major ICC event.
Now, a report from Cricbuzz suggests that Rohit won’t have to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy since both the International Cricket Council and the Pakistan Cricket Board have scrapped the proposed opening ceremony or the captains’ meet.
Actually, one of the quoted sources stated, “An opening ceremony was never announced either by the ICC or the PCB. The last opening ceremony where all the participating players participated was in Dhaka, 2011. Never after.”
In fact, a report quoting a source from news agency PTI said the PCB had to cancel the meeting of the team captains prior to the tournament on account of “unavailability of teams due to tight travelling schedules.” “The thing is all teams have tight schedules before the tournament. England and India are playing a white-ball series while Australia is playing a Test and ODI series in Sri Lanka,” the source said.
He further stated that the PCB has decided to organize a ceremonial pre-tournament for the 16th of February in Lahore instead of an opening ceremony.
The captains of all participating teams meet for a pre-tournament photo-op before the beginning of the ICC event, as per the tradition.
The 2025 edition of the Champions Trophy will, reportedly, be played from February 19 to March 9 in three venues across Pakistan and one in Dubai.
While India, out of security concerns, will not travel to Pakistan and play all their matches in Dubai.
In case of qualification for the finals, even the title clash will take place in Dubai.
The inauguration ceremony will be held at Huzoor Bagh in Lahore.
The source further confirmed that prior to the very first match of the mega event at the National Stadium in Karachi, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi had approved a list of all events.
The Gaddafi stadium, recently renovated, will be ceremonially opened on February 7, with Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif invited as chief guest.
The renovated National Stadium in Karachi is being inaugurated on February 11, and the chief guest will be President Asif Ali Zardari.
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