Rohit Sharma Unlikely to Visit Pakistan as Champions Trophy 2025 Skips Captains’ Photoshoot & Opening Ceremony

Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma will not be required to visit Pakistan for Champions Trophy 2025-related events, as there will be no official photoshoot before the tournament begins, and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided against hosting an opening ceremony.

The PCB confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that logistical challenges have led to the cancellation of the captains’ event and photoshoot.

Tournament Inauguration and Match Schedule

While no opening ceremony has been announced, the Champions Trophy 2025 will be marked with an event on February 16 in Lahore. The tournament itself is set to begin on February 19.

The captains’ photoshoot and event were called off as some teams, including Australia, will only arrive in Pakistan on the tournament’s opening day.

In recent ICC tournaments, such pre-tournament events have been scrapped due to scheduling issues.

For example, the 2024 T20 World Cup did not have a captains’ event, with the ICC instead opting for a projection show featuring team captains at the Rockefeller Center in New York City.

India’s Participation in a Hybrid Model

With PCB not hosting a captains’ event or photoshoot, speculation regarding Rohit Sharma’s travel to Pakistan has ended.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had earlier denied permission for the Indian team to travel to Pakistan due to security concerns, and as a result, India’s matches in the Champions Trophy will be played in Dubai.

Newly elected BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia had previously declined to confirm Rohit’s participation in any Pakistan-based ICC media events, stating on January 22, “Whether Rohit Sharma travels to Pakistan for ICC media engagements is something that’s still not decided.”

This decision allows India to avoid diplomatic complications, given the strained relations between the two nations.

India and Pakistan do not engage in bilateral series and only meet in ICC tournaments. The last time India traveled to Pakistan for an international cricket event was in 2008, and their last bilateral series took place in 2012.

India and Pakistan are scheduled to face off in the Champions Trophy on February 23, with the match set to take place in Dubai. If India reaches the final, the title match will also be played in Dubai.

PCB’s Alternative Plans for the Tournament’s Opening

While there will be no formal opening ceremony, the PCB has planned an inauguration event for February 16 at Huzoor Bagh in Lahore.

Additionally, the PCB will officially unveil the renovated Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on February 7, with Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif invited as the chief guest.

Similarly, the National Stadium in Karachi will be relaunched on February 11 in a ceremony expected to feature President Asif Ali Zardari.

A report in Cricbuzz confirmed the cancellation of the opening ceremony and captains’ photoshoot.

A source stated, “An opening ceremony was never announced either by the ICC or the PCB. The last such ceremony with all players in attendance was in Dhaka in 2011. Never after.”

Scheduling Conflicts Led to Cancellation of Captains’ Gathering

A separate report by PTI revealed that the PCB had to cancel the captains’ gathering due to the tight schedules of participating teams.

A source explained, “All teams have tight schedules before the tournament. England and India are playing a white-ball series, while Australia is engaged in a Test and ODI series in Sri Lanka.”

In conjunction with the ICC, the PCB has also decided against holding an official collective press conference for captains, as several teams will not be available before the tournament starts.

England is expected to arrive in Lahore on February 18, while Australia will reach Pakistan on February 19.

Champions Trophy 2025 Venues and Tournament Format

The 2025 Champions Trophy, scheduled between February 19 and March 9, will take place across three venues in Pakistan and one in Dubai.

Given security concerns, India will play all its matches in Dubai, including a potential final.

With the PCB’s decision to forgo the captains’ event and photoshoot, the focus will now shift to the on-field action, with teams preparing to compete in what promises to be a thrilling edition of the Champions Trophy.