Rohit Sharma Exempted From Visiting Pakistan for CT 2025 as ICC and PCB Cancel…
Rohit Sharma’s Participation in Champions Trophy 2025 Captains’ Meet in Question
The cricketing world has been abuzz with speculation regarding whether Rohit Sharma will attend the Champions Trophy 2025 captains’ meet in Pakistan. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) initially opposed the Indian team’s visit to Pakistan, the designated hosts of the tournament. As a result, the tournament was relocated to a hybrid model, with India’s matches scheduled to be held in Dubai. However, the issue of Rohit Sharma’s potential visit to Pakistan for the captains’ meet has raised concerns.
Cancellation of Opening Ceremony and Captains Photo-up
A recent report from Cricbuzz has indicated that Rohit Sharma may not need to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. The International Cricket Council (ICC) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have reportedly cancelled the planned opening ceremony and captains photo-up. This decision was made due to the unavailability of teams caused by tight travelling schedules. As a source mentioned, the last opening ceremony involving all participating players took place in Dhaka in 2011, and such events have not been held since.
Inauguration Event in Lahore
Instead of the traditional captains’ gathering, the PCB will organize an inauguration event for the tournament on February 16 in Lahore. This event will mark the beginning of the Champions Trophy 2025, which is scheduled to take place from February 19 to March 9. While India will not travel to Pakistan for security reasons, all their matches, including a potential final, will be played in Dubai.
Scheduled Events and Venue Renovations
The PCB has planned a series of events leading up to the tournament, including the official opening of the renovated Gaddafi Stadium on February 7 and the National Stadium in Karachi on February 11. The inauguration ceremony will be held at Huzoor Bagh in Lahore, with various dignitaries invited as chief guests. Teams like England and Australia are set to arrive in Lahore for the tournament, with no official collective press conference or photo shoot of all captains planned due to scheduling conflicts.
With the cancellation of the captains’ meet and opening ceremony, the focus now shifts to the upcoming matches and events leading up to the Champions Trophy 2025. Fans eagerly await the start of the tournament, which promises to be an exciting and competitive showcase of cricket talent.