Indian captain Rohit Sharma is expected to visit Pakistan ahead of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 for the pre-tournament trophy photoshoot and captains’ press conference.
While the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Indian government have maintained their stance against the Indian team playing matches in Pakistan, ICC regulations may require Rohit to make the trip as part of the tournament’s promotional activities.
The Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan, has already been marred by political tensions between the two neighboring nations. Due to the BCCI and the Indian government’s refusal to allow the Indian team to play in Pakistan, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has adopted a hybrid model for the tournament. Under this arrangement, India will play all their matches at a neutral venue in Dubai, while the rest of the tournament will proceed as planned in Pakistan.
Despite this compromise, the ICC’s regulations for global tournaments require all participating captains to attend a pre-tournament press conference and trophy photoshoot in the host nation. As a result, Rohit Sharma may have to travel to Pakistan, even though the Indian team will not play any matches there.
If Rohit Sharma does make the trip, it will mark a rare instance of an active Indian cricketer visiting Pakistan in 16 years. The last time an Indian cricket team toured Pakistan was in 2008 for the Asia Cup, and bilateral cricketing ties have since been limited to ICC and ACC events held at neutral venues.