India captain Rohit Sharma is unlikely to visit Pakistan for the captains’ event before the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, Geo TV reported. It has been coming at a time when travel concerns are rising and have also troubled England and Australia, whose plight could even jeopardize the holding of the tournament’s opening ceremony.
India’s Matches To Be Held In Dubai
India, citing security concerns, will not be sending their team to Pakistan, instead, all of India’s matches, including the potential final, will take place in Dubai. This decision has cast uncertainty over the usual pre-tournament captains’ photo-op and press conference. Historically, the captains of all participating nations gather for this event, but the logistical challenges surrounding India’s participation have forced the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to rethink these traditions.
“Traditional pre-tournament events, including the press conference featuring all eight captains and the official photo shoot in Karachi, have also been cancelled. Indian captain Rohit Sharma will not be travelling to Karachi for the captains’ conference, dispelling earlier speculations from Indian media,” the by Geo TV report claimed.
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Rohit and Other Captains Will Not Attend Photo Shoot
According to reports, it’s not just Rohit Sharma but captains of other teams as well who are not likely to participate in the event in Pakistan. This has caused the cancellation of the traditional photo session and the press conference. The uncertainty regarding this pre-tournament ritual depicts the challenges the PCB faces hosting the event for the first time since 1996.
England And Australia Will Skip Warm-Up Matches
England and Australia, scheduled to visit Pakistan over the next fortnight, have opted out of playing warm-up matches. Little time remains between England’s tour of India coming to an end and the new series with Pakistan for preparations; similarly, in Australia, it is their already packed schedule coupled with a two-Test series against Sri Lanka that has ruled out playing these matches. Both teams will directly go into the tournament and instead of having two practice games they would normally have been accorded. This trend is a continuation of the recent ICC events where teams prefer to rest and forgo practice matches in favor of a tight schedule.
PCB Calls Off Opening Ceremony
The PCB had always desired to host the opening ceremony for the Champions Trophy. However, with a decision by both England and Australia to avoid playing one or two warm-up games prior to the championship, it has become logistically impossible to conduct the event. Both the ICC and PCB wanted to celebrate the anniversary, but with limited work schedules and time available, they decided not to do so. Despite the event’s cancellation, the PCB continues to be a proponent of Pakistan’s strong cricketing heritage and will still host a special event before the Pakistan vs. New Zealand game on February 19 in Karachi.
Plans for a Special Event Before Pakistan-New Zealand Match
The PCB is planning a special celebration for the opening before the Pakistan-New Zealand match on February 19. This ceremony will be all about paying tributes to the cricketing history of Pakistan and generating excitement among the fans ahead of the event, as it cannot be allowed to be replaced by the opening ceremony.
Anticipation Builds For Champions Trophy Despite Setbacks
Without even the opening ceremony, the eagerness for Champions Trophy is rising high. The teams are preparing, and the cricket fans await one of the promising tournaments ever to be experienced. The event kicks off mid-February and will surely go all out, although it might bring along several logistically-related headaches.
