ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Rohit Sharma no longer needed to travel to Pakistan

There will be no official International Cricket Council (ICC) captain's meet and photoshoot ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy because of logistical concerns, reported the Times of India. As a result, Indian captain Rohit Sharma won’t have to travel to Pakistan and can directly head to Dubai, where India will play all their games.

The report suggested that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will have considerable trouble organising the event ahead of the 50-over tournament. England and Australia are currently involved in a series against India and Sri Lanka, respectively, and even they will reach Pakistan late.

Meanwhile, India will reach Dubai on February 15 and will start their campaign against Bangladesh on February 20 without any practice games. India’s ODI series against England will end on February 12 and the Men in Blue are okay with “quality net sessions” ahead of the 50-over tournament.

The PCB, however, will have an event in Lahore ahead of the Champions Trophy. There were discussions about having the event in Karachi but it has now been shifted to Lahore.

According to a report in ESPNcricinfo, Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif will inaugurate the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on February 7, while Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari will inaugurate the National Stadium in Karachi on February 11.