As the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 approaches, there’s a lot of buzz surrounding the tournament, especially with Pakistan being one of the host countries. While India’s team will be playing its matches in Dubai, there’s still the question of whether India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, will travel to Pakistan for the pre-tournament captain’s photo shoot and press conference. This question raises important issues about politics, security, and the relationship between the two nations.

Read Also: ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Indian squad announcement likely to be delayed

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will begin on February 19, and the tournament will follow a unique hybrid model. The games will be held in both Pakistan and Dubai, with India’s team playing all of its matches in Dubai. The hybrid model was specially designed for this tournament to allow India to play its games outside Pakistan due to political tensions between the two countries.

This decision has created a special scenario where one of the host countries, Pakistan, has the possibility of adjusting the venue for the semifinals and final. If India reaches the semifinals, the venue can be flexible, with one semifinal in Dubai and the other in Pakistan. The final itself may also be moved between Dubai and Pakistan, depending on the situation. The exact location of the final won't be confirmed until the last week, as the ICC is considering dual grounds for preparation, with decisions made according to the circumstances.

Will Rohit Sharma Travel to Pakistan for ICC Captain’s Event?

Before the tournament begins, there’s usually a big event with the captains of all the teams. They gather for a photo shoot with the Champions Trophy and take part in a press conference where they discuss their teams and expectations for the tournament. This event is a standard part of any major ICC tournament.

The question on everyone’s mind is whether Rohit Sharma, the captain of India, will be able to attend this event, which could take place in Pakistan. Given the political tensions between India and Pakistan, there’s a strong possibility that this event might be shifted to Dubai, where the Indian team is comfortable. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has all the rights to organize such events, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) may not allow Indian players to travel to Pakistan due to security concerns and diplomatic issues.

BCCI’s Likely Response

The ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan have been a significant factor in the decision-making process. India has not played bilateral cricket with Pakistan for many years, and even in ICC events, the teams rarely meet outside of tournaments. This has led to uncertainty about whether Rohit Sharma, or any Indian cricketer, would travel to Pakistan for the captain’s event.

The situation is further complicated by the fact that the BCCI controls India’s participation in such events, and the board has historically been cautious about sending players to Pakistan. This means that even if the PCB insists on hosting the event in Pakistan, it is unlikely that the BCCI will allow Indian players to travel there. As a result, the captain’s event could easily be moved to Dubai, where the other teams’ captains would be present.

A Possible Shift to Dubai

Given the current circumstances, it seems more likely that the ICC will move the captain’s photo shoot and press conference to Dubai. This would ensure that all the captains are in attendance, including Rohit Sharma, without putting the players or the Indian cricket board in a difficult situation. Dubai has often served as a neutral venue for international cricket events, making it the ideal location for this kind of gathering.

Read Also: 3 Big Changes India Needs to Make in Test Cricket to Avoid Agonizing Defeats

The hybrid model schedule for India’s matches in the ICC Champions Trophy, 2025, considering the qualification in the league stage and the special arrangement due to political issues between India and Pakistan:

• Feb 20: Bangladesh vs. India, Group A
  Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

• Feb 23: Pakistan vs. India, Group A
  Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

• Mar 02: New Zealand vs. India, Group A
  Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

• Mar 04: 1st Semi-Final (A1 vs. B2)
  Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

• Mar 05: 2nd Semi-Final (B1 vs. A2)
  Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

• Mar 09: Final (TBC vs. TBC)
  Venue: TBC (Venue to be confirmed)