ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Will Rohit Sharma travel to Pakistan?

As the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 approaches, there remains uncertainty over whether Indian captain Rohit Sharma will travel to Pakistan for the captains' event in Karachi, scheduled tentatively around February 16 or 17. This event, typically held in the host nation ahead of major tournaments, is a key part of the Champions Trophy build-up, but it is still unclear whether Sharma will attend. While the actual matches of the tournament will be split between Pakistan and the UAE, Pakistan is the official host of the eight-team event. The lack of clarity has raised questions about India's participation in the event, given the ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not made an official announcement regarding Sharma’s travel plans, leaving fans and pundits alike speculating.

Rohit Sharma is uncertain to travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 captains meet?

Devjit Saikia, the newly-appointed secretary of the BCCI, confirmed that there has been no official communication from the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding the captains’ event. This suggests that the uncertainty may continue until closer to the event, further complicating matters for the Indian team’s preparations. While India is set to begin their Champions Trophy campaign on February 20 in Dubai, all eyes are on the decision surrounding the captains' event in Pakistan, which could set the tone for India's involvement in the tournament.

"It [Rohit travelling to Pakistan] has not yet been discussed. It is not on the agenda yet," BCCI Secretary Devjit Saikia stated in a recent interview. 

It remains unclear whether the Board of Control for Cricket in India will need approval from the Indian government before allowing Rohit Sharma to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025 captains' event. Given the political tensions between India and Pakistan, any decision regarding travel to Pakistan for official events is often subject to government clearance. While the Indian team is set to compete in the tournament, which will be co-hosted by Pakistan and the UAE, the specifics of government permissions for travel to Pakistan have not been disclosed. The BCCI has not yet clarified whether this situation applies to the upcoming captains' event in Karachi, scheduled for mid-February. As the tournament approaches, the BCCI’s communication with the government will likely play a crucial role in finalizing Rohit Sharma’s participation, adding an extra layer of uncertainty to India's preparations for the prestigious competition.

India and Pakistan last played a bilateral series in 2012-13, with the two nations only meeting in ICC events or the Asia Cup since then. In the past decade, India has not traveled to Pakistan, though Pakistan has visited India for tournaments like the 2016 T20 World Cup and the 2023 ODI World Cup. Initially, Pakistan was scheduled to host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 exclusively. However, following India’s decision to not travel to Pakistan due to security and political concerns, the tournament was adapted into a hybrid model. Under this format, the matches involving the Indian team will be played in Dubai, while other games will take place in Pakistan.

The decision to relocate India's games to Dubai comes amid ongoing tensions between the two countries, which have affected sporting ties. Despite these challenges, the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 remains a significant event for both nations, with the hybrid model ensuring that the tournament can proceed while accommodating the concerns of the participating teams.

"BCCI will follow every uniform-related ICC rule during Champions Trophy. Whatever the other teams will do regarding the logo and dress code, we are going to follow in true letter and spirit," Saikia added. 

Devjit Saikia, the newly appointed BCCI secretary, has clarified that India will fully comply with the dress code set by the ICC for the Champions Trophy 2025. This statement comes in response to media speculation suggesting that the BCCI had refused to feature the name of the host country, Pakistan, on the Indian team’s jersey. Typically, player jerseys during ICC events display the tournament logo, the host nation’s name, and the year, alongside the tournament name.

India and Pakistan are once again placed in the same group for the Champions Trophy 2025, alongside New Zealand and Bangladesh. The much-anticipated clash between the arch-rivals will take place on February 23 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. This matchup is set to be one of the most talked-about fixtures of the tournament, given the intense rivalry between the two teams. While the political landscape has complicated sporting ties, the Champions Trophy will provide a stage for both sides to showcase their talents in a competitive international setting.