There is ongoing uncertainty regarding whether India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, will travel to Pakistan for the official captains' call ahead of the 2025 ICC Men’s Champions Trophy.
The event, traditionally held in the host country, is tentatively scheduled for February 16 or 17 in Karachi. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not yet received official communication from the ICC about the event.
Devjit Saikia, the newly appointed BCCI secretary, stated to ESPNcricinfo, "It [Rohit traveling to Pakistan] has not yet been discussed. It is not on the agenda yet," This leaves the situation unclear as to whether the BCCI would need permission from the Indian government for Rohit’s travel.
Political tensions between India and Pakistan have meant that both nations have not played a bilateral series since 2012, with their encounters limited to ICC tournaments.
Although Pakistan has traveled to India for ICC events, India has not played cricket in Pakistan since 2008. To address this, the ICC, in collaboration with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has introduced a ‘fusion formula’ for ICC events until 2027. As part of this arrangement, Dubai will host India’s matches during the Champions Trophy.
While no Indian player has visited Pakistan for an official event recently, BCCI officials have made visits. In 2023, BCCI president Roger Binny and vice-president Rajiv Shukla attended an official PCB dinner in Lahore during the Asia Cup.
The PCB has requested the ICC to ensure that all teams and captains participate in the pre-tournament activities for the Champions Trophy. However, the logistics and travel arrangements for the event are still being finalized.
The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy will run from February 19 to March 9, with matches held in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Dubai.
The tournament will feature eight teams and 15 matches, with the opening match between Pakistan and New Zealand scheduled for February 19 in Karachi. A highly anticipated India vs Pakistan clash will take place on February 23 in Dubai.
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