The participation of India’s cricket captain, Rohit Sharma, in the ICC Captains’ Call ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan is shrouded in uncertainty. The pre-match event, tentatively scheduled for February 16 or 17 in Karachi, aims to deliver the event’s captains for media engagements and promotional activities together. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has yet to confirm whether or not Sharma will tour Pakistan for the occasion.
“It [Rohit’s travel to Pakistan] has not but been discussed. It is not at the schedule yet,” said Devjit Saikia, the newly appointed secretary of the BCCI, in an interview with ESPNcricinfo.
India’s Matches to Be Played in Dubai
Political tensions between India and Pakistan continue to complicate cricketing relations. While Pakistan has traveled to India for ICC events in recent years, India has not played in Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup. Bilateral relations between the two nations have been maintained since 2012, with the teams most effectively dealing with each other in ICC and ACC tournaments.
As part of the hybrid version devised with the aid of the ICC and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the 2025 Champions Trophy, India’s suits, including capacity knockout video games, will take area in Dubai in preference to Pakistan. This association reflects the BCCI’s stance against sending the Indian crew to Pakistan because of protection and political issues.
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Challenges for the ICC
Given the backdrop of strained relations between India and Pakistan, the ICC faces logistical hurdles in organizing the Captains’ Call. The PCB has reportedly driven for all team captains to take part in the occasion and attend the pre-match photoshoot and beginning rite. However, a precedent for flexibility was set at some point during the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup, where the ICC opted for a virtual release in preference to a physical captains’ occasion, using projections of the players on New York’s Rockefeller Center.
Additionally, the ICC remains finalizing journey arrangements for all collaborating teams, with provisions for decent-up matches depending on the teams’ arrival schedules.
Recent BCCI Visits to Pakistan
Although no Indian cricketer has visited Pakistan in recent years, there may be some precedent for BCCI officials traveling to the country. In 2023, BCCI president Roger Binny and vice-president Rajiv Shukla attended a PCB-hosted dinner in Lahore during the Asia Cup. In response to an invitation from then-PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf, this rare visit highlights the occasional diplomatic overtures amid ongoing political anxiety.
Awaiting Final Decision
With the ICC Champions Trophy quickly drawing close, the cricketing world awaits clarity on whether Rohit Sharma will journey to Pakistan for the Captain’s call. As arrangements continue, the hybrid web hosting model underscores the demanding situations of organizing international cricket tournaments in a complicated political landscape.
