Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma is likely to visit Pakistan ahead of the much-awaited 2025 Men’s Cricket Champions Trophy to participate in pre-tournament events in the host country, Indian media claimed on Monday.
This development has heightened the excitement level of cricket fans in both countries as for the first time in many years it will see an Indian cricketer travel to Pakistan for an international event.
Reports have suggested that Sharma may attend Champions Trophy events including a photo shoot with all the captains and a press conference as part of the ICC’s promotional campaign.
However, there is no official word from the Indian Cricket Board regarding Sharma’s visit to Pakistan, while the neighboring team is yet to reveal their squad for the upcoming tournament.
The tournament, which includes eight teams and consists of 15 matches, will be held from February 19 to March 9, in three stadiums – Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi – in Pakistan and Dubai.
The teams are divided into two groups. The first group includes Pakistan, India, New Zealand, and Bangladesh, while the second group includes Afghanistan, South Africa, England, and Australia.
Hosts Pakistan will face New Zealand in the opening match on February 19 in Karachi.
India will play its first match against Bangladesh in Dubai on February 20, while the intense clash between arch-rivals Pakistan and India is scheduled to be played on February 23 in Dubai.
It is worth noting here that the upcoming event will be held according to a hybrid model, with India scheduled to play its matches in a neutral venue – Dubai – and not in the host country, Pakistan.
The announcement came last month, ending a month-long standoff after India informed the International Cricket Federation that it would not send its team to Pakistan due to security concerns and political tensions.
A statement issued by the council said: “Indian and Pakistani matches hosted by either country in ICC events during the 2024-2027 rights cycle will be held at a neutral venue.” “This will apply to the upcoming 2025 Men’s ICC Champions Trophy (hosted by Pakistan).”
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had earlier refused to play the Champions Trophy on a hybrid model but backed down after settling on neutral grounds for both sides.
The statement added that the agreement will extend to the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup, hosted by India, and the 2026 Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup, hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
It was also announced that PCB will be awarded the rights to host the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2028, where neutral venue arrangements will also be implemented.