The United Kingdom (UK) has been a favorite tourist destination for the Indian batting legend Virat Kohli. On his rare off days, he has often been spotted and filmed vacationing with his family on numerous occasions in that country.  In fact, his frequent visits to the pristine nation have sparked speculations of his potential plans to settle in the UK as hinted by his childhood coach Rajkumar. 

While the debate on his future re-settlement plans continues to rage on, a ground-breaking revelation has been made about Kohli's offshore properties in the UK. Upon discovery, it is believed that Virat, along with his wife Anushka, have a total of two UK-based firms registered under their names. The firm which goes by the name of "Clean Swwipe Entertainment PLC" is believed to have been sold to an unknown UK investor. But the firm which is currently under their ownership is "Magik Lamp Limited".

See also: Watch: Virat Kohli lashes out at the reporters for breaching his privacy

Watch the entire video:

The revelation of the couple's hidden possessions in the UK has left their fans awestruck. Both Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma are the ultimate Beneficiary Owners of the Magik Lamp Limited. A further closer inspection reveals that the firm is believed to be located 326 km away from London in Cleckheaton.

Virat Kohli doing all this to escape from taxes, Is Virat Kohli new Harshad Mehta? pic.twitter.com/DbNOthLlCL

— Voice of Hindus (@Warlock_Shabby) December 22, 2024

The rationale behind enlisting as beneficial owners instead of directors is that structuring companies often nominate dummy people to adhere to the prevailing business customs and avoid sanctions. Even though the couple may be absent from the grand scheme of things, the real control will rest on them. Now whether or not this move was made to avoid taxes is a subject highly debatable at this point.

Virat amongst the highest taxpayer from the Indian cricket team

Despite the emergence of Kohli's notorious tax-evading tactics, the Indian batting legend remains the highest taxpayer from the 2023-24 financial cycle. In comparison with current and former Indian cricketers, Kohli has shelled a fortune paying a whopping Rs 66 crore making him the highest taxpayer by any sportsman or cricketer in India. 

Dhoni is second to him on that list giving away a record Rs 38 crore whereas Tendulkar, Ganguly, Hardik, and Pant have all contributed with amounts of Rs 28 crore, Rs 23 crore, Rs 13 crore, and Rs 10 crore respectively. 

The much-anticipated Champions Trophy 2025 is scheduled to begin on February 19 and will end on March 9 with March 10 reserved as a backup day. The marquee event was supposed to be held entirely in Pakistan but India's denial to send its national team to the neighboring nation resulted in a significant delay in the official announcement of the schedule on ICC's part.  

But in recent times, ICC achieved a major breakthrough by getting both the BCCI and the PCB on the same page. As per agreement, a fusion model has been adopted wherein India will play all their matches against Pakistan in a neutral venue and similarly, Pakistan will also refrain from traveling to India and play all their matches in a neutral venue as well.   

With the deadlock now coming to a close, the ICC is reportedly working on orchestrating the schedule of the Champions Trophy 2025 tournament and an official announcement about the same could soon be imminent. 

See also: ICC Champions Trophy 2025 hosting status set to be finalised

ICC's tentative schedule for the Champions Trophy

As per RevSports, India and Pakistan are believed to be in the same group. India, along with Pakistan, New Zealand, and Bangladesh are placed in Group A. The Men in Blue is expected to kick off their campaign on February 20 by facing Bangladesh. Their next encounter is slated to be against Pakistan on February 23. However, the venue for the high-octane clash has not been decided yet. But as per sources, Dubai and Colombo could play host to this sizzling fixture. 

India is expected to play its last league against New Zealand on March 2. Australia, England, South Africa, and Afghanistan are the other teams placed in Group B.

Group Composition for the 2025 Champions Trophy
 
Group A

- India
- Pakistan
- New Zealand
- Bangladesh
 
Group B

- Australia
- England
- South Africa
- Afghanistan

Tentative fixtures in the Champions Trophy 2025 (Times are in IST)

February 19, 2:30 pm Karachi Pakistan vs New Zealand

February 20, 2:30 pm Neutral Bangladesh vs India

February 21, 2:30 pm Karachi Afghanistan vs South Africa

February 22, 2:30 pm Lahore Australia vs England

February 23, 2:30 pm Neutral Pakistan vs India

February 24, 2:30 pm Rawalpindi Bangladesh vs New Zealand

February 25, 2:30 pm Rawalpindi Australia vs South Africa

February 26, 2:30 pm Lahore Afghanistan vs England

February 27, 2:30 pm Rawalpindi Pakistan vs Bangladesh

February 28, 2:30 pm Lahore Afghanistan vs Australia

March 1, 2:30 pm Karachi South Africa vs England

March 2, 2:30 pm Neutral New Zealand vs India

March 4, 2:30 pm Neutral Semi-Final A1 vs B2

March 5, 2:30 pm Neutral Semi-Final B1 vs A2

March 9, 2:30 pm Neutral Final

March 10 - Neutral Reserve Day

Although a cloud of uncertainty looms over the fate of a neutral venue, the renovation work of the Pakistan stadiums is currently underway in full swing and is expected to be complete in the coming weeks.  

Uttar Pradesh-born Indian pacer Mohammed Shami will be rested ahead of Bengal's opening Vijay Hazare Trophy fixture against Delhi starting tomorrow in Hyderabad. Shami was originally drafted in the 20-member squad for Bengal for this List-A tournament but will have to wait out of the first game. 

Despite making a resounding return to domestic cricket, Shami is far from regaining his full fitness. Shami's swelling around the ankle region appears to be the main cause of concern for the Indian skipper Rohit Sharma. With one eye on a potential return to the India Test squad for the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Rohit does not want to take any chances with Shami and wants him to be "200%" fit before he can be considered. 

See also: Watch: Lyon, Cummins heart-warming gesture to Ashwin on his retirement

Shami under the close supervision of NCA

Shami has been under the close eye of the Centre of Excellence under NCA ever since he underwent ankle surgery in London this February. Following his successful ankle surgery, Shami made a cautious return to the domestic arena and scripted some notable performances for his domestic side. But after a few performances, complaints of his knee problems soon came to light thus giving us an indication that the pacer is not fully ready to hit the ground running just yet.  

Speaking at a press conference after the Gabba Test, Rohit threw light on Shami's ongoing struggles with his ankle and indicated that the management will only take a call on his selection once he proves his full fitness. Moreover, he also expects the medical experts from the NCA to weigh in on this matter and provide him with regular updates on Shami's overall fitness.  

"I understand he's playing a lot of cricket back home, but there have been some complaints about his knee as well. So, there is no way we want to take that chance unless we are like, not 100%, 200% sure, we're not going to take any risk. But yeah, like I said in the last press conference, the door is open if those guys at the NCA feel that he is okay to go and recover and play, we'll be happy to have him."

The road ahead for Mohammed Shami

Upon his return, Shami has been performing actively in the domestic circuit making a handful number of appearances for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He was on track to making a comeback in the Bangladesh home test series but aggravated a knee problem while at rehab, which forced the BCCI to err on the side of caution. 

Shami is closely under observation of Nitin Patel, the head of sports science at the Centre of Excellence. Under Patel's leadership, the team has been traveling nationwide to assess his development and keep the management informed of his status.

Should Shami fail to achieve full fitness for the penultimate BGT Test in Melbourne or the final BGT Test commencing on January 3—both of which appear increasingly improbable—his next objective will be to prepare for India's Champions Trophy campaign scheduled for early next year.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Roger Binny has appointed the joint secretary Devajit Saikia as the interim secretary of the board. The position had been vacant since December 1 as Jay Shah left the position due to taking over the role of chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC). 

To appoint an interim secretary, the BCCI president utilised the special power which has been given in the constitution 7 (1) (d). Till the appointment of the permanent secretary under the BCCI rules and regulations, it has been set up as a stop-gap arrangement.

Article 7 (1) (d) claims, "The President shall, in the event of a vacancy, or indisposition of an office-bearer, delegate the functions to another Office-Bearer, delegate the functions to another Office-Bearer, until the vacancy is duly filled up, or the indisposition ceases."

See Also: ICC punishes Siraj and Head for their on-field incident

I am confident you will perform the duties to the best: Binny to Saikia

The BCCI president Roger Binny wrote to Saikia, "Accordingly, I delegate the functions of secretary to you till the post is filled up by processes laid down as per BCCI rules and regulations. I am confident you will perform the duties to the best of your abilities and with aplomb." 

Although there is no official clarification for the timeline of the latest interim secretary role, the PTI report believes the latest interim secretary role will be carried on till September 2025.

On December 5, Saikia attended the ICC board meeting in Dubai.

Who is Devajit Saikia?

Saikia is a former first-class cricketer. He played four first-class matches for the Assam cricket team between 1990 and 1991. He was a wicketkeeper and middle-order batter. Earlier, he served Assam in various youth-age tournaments.

Saikia gave up professional cricket to pursue his law career. Before starting to practice in the law field, Saikia earned jobs in the Northern Frontier Railways and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) through a sports quota. Saikia also played several Lawyers’ World Cups, including captaining one of the two Indian teams in the 2015-16 season.

Saikia's cricket administration journey started in 2016. He was one of the six vice presidents of the Assam Cricket Association (ACA), and he became the secretary of the ACA in 2019. In 2022, he became the BCCI joint secretary.

Skipper Rohit Sharma is preparing to head to Australia in the next few days. He will join the Team in Perth on November 24, the third day of the First Test at Optus Stadium. His departure was delayed due to the birth of his second child.

Team India left for Australia in three batches between November 10 and 11 but Rohit Sharma stayed back for the birth of his second child. Skipper Rohit Sharma was blessed with a baby boy on November 15 and still, his travel plans to Australia were uncertain.

See Also:- Ashwin set for Test debut in Perth after 5 tours

Although some reports claimed that Rohit Sharma would arrive in Perth well ahead of the first Test on Friday (November 22) morning, it was always evident that he would postpone his travel. But now it is being confirmed that he has informed the concerned authorities Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that he would join the squad on Sunday.

Team India will play the two-day pink-ball warm-up game against the Australian Prime Minister's XI before the day-night Test in Adelaide which starts on December 6.

The 0-3 whitewash at home against the Black Caps has raised alarm bells within the BCCI administration, compelling them to revisit their 'A' program which involves bolstering their bench strength for the top-tier Indian team. As per a recent report from TOI, National Cricket Academy (NCA) head VVS Laxman is reportedly devising a strategy to create a player resource pool.

The 'A' program worked as a charm under the supervision of former India head coach Rahul Dravid who used to tour with developmental teams throughout the year thereby offering the highest degree of exposure to young budding India cricketers. 

The issues surrounding the 'A' program in the past

The 'A' program suffered a setback in the past following the advent of the Covid pandemic. These A tours presented a huge financial burden on the other boards as they refrained from sponsoring the India U-19 series and 'A' teams. Despite the pressing challenges, BCCI made concise efforts to organize a couple of shadow 'A' tours like the one that preceded India's Test tour of Australia. 

"Other boards have communicated to the BCCI that they can't bear the expenses of an 'A' tour. The BCCI has still tried to organize a couple of shadow 'A' tours like the one which precedes India's Test tour of Australia. Laxman is working on it to come up with a plan that will offer greater exposure to the next generation of cricketers," a source said.

The major reason behind several boards' reluctance to host the 'A' tours vastly stems from the financial implications. These tours do not generate any revenue and all the expenses have to be incurred by the local boards which makes the 'A' program a highly unsustainable prospect in the long run.  Laxman will have a tricky task at hand and needs to find a viable solution to make these tours more affordable. 

A look into India's most recent 'A' tour

India featured in an 'A' series earlier this year against the England Lions prior to the start of the five-match Test series against England. That series offered an all-round view to the selectors on the players' current standing which in turn provided a baseline for them to make suitable selections ahead of the competitive Test series. 

Moreover, the 'A' program also came into focus in India's previous BGT outing down under where the likes of Siraj, Thaku, Saini, and Sundar all of whom stepped up in the absence of senior players. These players were the by-product of the 'A' series that was scheduled just before the start of the series. On the back of some formidable performances in the 'A' series, these budding youngsters were able to book their place in the Indian playing Xl which subsequently triumphed under dire conditions to clinch the series by 2-1.  

See also: Nitish Reddy included in Ravi Shastri's playing Xl in the upcoming Perth Test

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially named Pakistan as the host for the 2025 ICC Men’s Champions Trophy, scheduled to take place from February to March next year. The announcement, accompanied by a new visual identity for the men's and women's Champions Trophy tournaments, comes amid escalating diplomatic concerns, as India’s government has expressed reluctance to send its cricket team to Pakistan. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has relayed this stance to the ICC and proposed a hybrid model, allowing India to play its matches outside Pakistan.

ICC releases visual identity, affirms Pakistan’s host status

The ICC’s latest video showcases Pakistan as the official venue for the Champions Trophy, highlighting cultural landmarks like Lahore’s Shahi Qila and unique elements of Pakistani truck art. An ICC statement describes the Champions Trophy as a "thrilling two-week competition" with top teams competing in a tournament format where "every match counts." The men’s event, returning for the first time since 2017, will see eight teams competing for the white jackets awarded to champions, while the newly introduced women's Champions Trophy, set for 2027 in Sri Lanka, will adopt the T20 format with six teams competing.

In its statement, the ICC added, "The Champions Trophy will now occur every two years, alternating between a men’s ODI tournament and a women’s T20 event, bringing intense competition and historic moments as teams battle for the iconic white jackets."

ICC reveals Logo and Brand Identity for Champions Trophy. pic.twitter.com/ckJN5vZZT6

— Ragav 𝕏 (@ragav_x) November 13, 2024

See Also: Sunil Gavaskar shares untold anecdote of India-Australia rivalry with Allan Border

India’s hybrid model proposal sparks diplomacy and debate

The BCCI’s hybrid model proposal is aimed at enabling India to participate in the tournament without crossing borders into Pakistan. However, the Pakistan government has reportedly directed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) not to relocate any games outside Pakistan. The tension surrounding this arrangement continues as the PCB and BCCI seek a resolution. Despite the ongoing discussions, the ICC’s promotional video reinforces Pakistan’s position as host, underscoring the anticipation for the nation to welcome international teams after nearly a decade.

Pakistan is the reigning champion of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy, having defeated India in a memorable final in 2017 in the UK. With the tournament's return, cricket fans and players alike are eager to witness the unfolding of one of cricket’s premier events. The inclusion of the first-ever women’s Champions Trophy in 2027 marks a significant step for the ICC’s commitment to elevating women’s cricket on the global stage, offering both excitement and opportunity for players worldwide.

As the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed its decision to not travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and International Cricket Council (ICC) are busy to find solutions quickly. 

Pakistan is getting ready to host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. It is the first time since the 1996 ODI World Cup that Pakistan will host an ICC tournament. 

India last toured Pakistan in 2008. Even in the last Asia Cup (2023), which was played in the ODI format, Pakistan was the host nation, but the BCCI’s decision to not travel to Pakistan forced the PCB to host the tournament in a hybrid model. Sri Lanka majorly hosted the Indian matches and the final. 

So, the BCCI’s negative decision to tour Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 was highly expected. 

SEE ALSO: Rohit Sharma to miss first Test against Australia in Perth

What did the BCCI tell the ICC?

According to media reports, the BCCI has clarified that the hybrid model for the ICC Champions Trophy is acceptable to them only if Dubai hosts the tournament final.  

A source told PTI, “Unless the PCB decides to pull out of hosting the Champions Trophy the current plan is to hold India’s matches in UAE and the final in Dubai. The Indian Cricket Board has told the ICC that a Hybrid Model is acceptable to them only if the final is held in Dubai and not in Pakistan. The ICC has told the PCB that if it decides to go ahead with the hosting of the mega event on a Hybrid Model it would get its full hosting fees and majority of the matches.”

Present status on hosting the ICC Champions Trophy on a hybrid model

Meanwhile, the PCB wants clarifications from the ICC on BCCI’s decision to not travel to Pakistan. According to media reports, the PCB is still not thinking of hosting the tournament on a hybrid model and is hopeful to host the complete tournament in Pakistan. 

A PCB source told PTI, "There is no talk about having the Champions Trophy on a Hybrid Model system as of now. An email is to be sent to the ICC with the advice of its legal department in which the Board wanted clarifications from the ICC on the Indian decision. As of now, the entire situation is being gauged by the PCB. No decision has been taken on the next step. Yes, the PCB is in touch with the government for consultation and directives if required."

The ICC Champions Trophy is returning after eight years. England and Wales hosted the last ICC Champions Trophy 2017, where Pakistan won their first title in the competition after beating the defending champions India in the final of the tournament.

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will run between eight teams. Apart from the hosts and defending champions Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, South Africa, New Zealand, and England will participate in the upcoming edition of the Champions Trophy. 

For the past few weeks, speculation regarding the future of the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 has been rife. The focus has been mostly centered on the ongoing tussle between PCB and BCCI as the Indian government stands firmly opposed to sending its cricket team to Pakistan. Out of eight participating teams, India is the only team that willfully wants to refrain from traveling to Pakistan citing "security reasons". The Indian team last toured Pakistan during the 2008 Asia Cup right before the tragic terror attacks in Mumbai which claimed countless lives.

Relations since the in-famous terror attack have been sour and the bilateral cricketing ties have plummeted to an all-time low. Very recently, right before the release of the official Champions Trophy schedule, the BCCI blatantly refused to tour Pakistan for the Champions Trophy and has also issued a formal communication to the ICC about the same. This puts PCB in a difficult situation who are reportedly taking all possible measures to host its first major ICC event since 1996. 

How did the PCB respond to BCCI's denial to travel Pakistan? 

As soon as BCCI's decision was conveyed to the ICC, it was learnt that the PCB had reportedly referred the matter to its government which is currently reviewing this highly sensitive situation. Previously, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi expressed that his board is unwilling to make any compromises and quashed any hopes of adopting a hybrid model unless a written explanation is issued by the Indian government. 

As per a PCB spokesperson, the ICC had communicated this news to the PCB via email on Friday but a formal reason for India's omission was missing. 

"The ICC emailed the PCB informing them about the inability of the BCCI to send its team to Pakistan. No reason was given. There is nothing in writing we have received from the BCCI. The PCB has apprised the federal government of the situation."

Unlike last year's Asia Cup where the PCB gave in to India's "hybrid model" approach, the stance will be a lot more stringent by the PCB. And since Naqvi is also part of Pakistan's interior ministry, the stance can be viewed as representative of the government in this case. As per sources, the Pakistan government will advise the PCB to remain resolute in this matter and work with the governing bodies to host the Champions Trophy successfully in Pakistan. 

How will ICC respond amidst the political standoff between the two boards?

As the countdown for the much-anticipated Champions Trophy draws close, ICC will have a little under 100 days to finalize the future and the outcome of the tournament. As cricketing ties continue to get impacted amidst worsening geopolitical ties between the two nations, ICC now finds itself in a tight situation. Picking either side in a situation like this can invite consequences that the ICC may not be able to ascertain at this stage. Both Naqvi and jay Shah have close ties to their respective head of states. The situation will not become any simpler when Shah takes over as the ICC chair, on December 1.

The tug of war between PCB and BCCI continues to rage on as the Champions Trophy 2025 schedule nears its official announcement. BCCI openly expressed its displeasure about visiting Pakistan citing "security" concerns and rather suggested the ICC to have all their matches shifted to a neutral venue, Dubai. 

However, the PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi strongly voiced his objection to BCCI's inclination towards having a proposed "hybrid" model. He reiterated firmly that the entire tournament will be hosted in Pakistan and the Indian team, like other participating teams, are obliged to visit the country. In a recent media discussion at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Naqvi revealed that the PCB is yet to receive any official confirmation from the BCCI regarding India's objection to playing in Pakistan. 

What is Mohsin Naqvi's stance on this issue?

Amidst growing reports on the India team's unwillingness to participate in the upcoming Champions Trophy in Pakistan, Naqvi has said that he is actively in touch with his Indian counterpart and assures that he is working around the clock with his team to make progress on this issue. He further clarified his stance and explained that if any objections need to be conveyed by the BCCI then it has to be in the form of writing. As of now, the PCB has not received any official complaint or an objection in the written format.

"In the last two months, the Indian media has been reporting that India isn't traveling. I discussed this with them and my team, and our stance is clear: they need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one. The Indian media are reporting it, but no formal communication has reached the PCB."

Additionally, Naqvi also debunks any possibility of adopting a hybrid model and states that there has been no discussion between the PCB and the BCCI of having a hybrid model and neither are they in a position to adopt one. 

Distraught cricketing ties between India and Pakistan

Both India and Pakistan have been bitter rivals off the field but due to the ongoing political standoff. Despite the bitter geopolitical ties, cricket between the two Asian cricketing giants blossomed and the rivalry between the two nations was something to behold. Since the infamous terror attacks in Mumbai, India has never toured Pakistan for a bilateral series since 2008. Pakistan too, have severed their cricketing ties with India and last came on a bilateral series tour in 2012-13. However, the two nations continue to face each other in major ICC events. 

Naqvi elaborates that Pakistan has been very cooperative in this matter and despite BCCI's refusal to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, PCB still made a decision to send their cricket team to play the ODI World Cup 2023. That tournament eventually adopted a hybrid model, with the latter stages played in Sri Lanka. He expects BCCI to adopt a positive approach. Furthermore, he has been a long believer in the fact that sports should not get embroiled in politics. Whether or not two countries get along has nothing to do with sports.

"Cricket should be free of politics. If you don't get along with another country, that's another matter, but politics should not be involved in sport."  

At this stage, it is hard to ascertain the fate of the Champions Trophy. PCB remains adamant about its position to host all Champions Trophy matches inside Pakistan but it is also clear that BCCI will not make any decisive move on this matter without the clearance from their government. 

See also: Watch: Bangladeshi and Pakistani cricketers' hilarious interview moments