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Rohit To Skip Pakistan Visit; BCCI Requests ICC To Shift Champions Trophy Events: Report

Rajgeeta

Rohit Sharma likely to not travel Pakistan [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/X.com]Rohit Sharma likely to not travel Pakistan [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/X.com]

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Emerging reports reveal that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to shift two key pre-tournament events—captains' press conference and photoshoot—for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy from Pakistan to Dubai. The tournament, scheduled to start on February 19, has already stirred controversy due to political tensions between India and Pakistan.

This move by the BCCI has reignited tensions between the Indian and Pakistan cricket boards. After India refused to send its team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, the tournament was converted into a hybrid model. Under this arrangement, India will play all its matches in Dubai instead of Pakistan, the official host country.

Now, the Indian board has gone a step further by barring its captain, Rohit Sharma, from traveling to Pakistan for the curtain-raiser events. Instead, the BCCI has requested the ICC to hold these events in Dubai so that Rohit can participate without entering Pakistan.

PCB Source Reacts To BCCI's Request

Unsurprisingly, this decision has left the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) infuriated. A source quoted by The Times of India stated, 

“ICC has already accommodated India's request not to schedule its Champions Trophy matches in Pakistan, so these are minor issues.” 

India and Pakistan have not played bilateral cricket since the 2012-13 series hosted in India. Political strains have kept the two nations apart, with no Indian team touring Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup. However, Pakistan teams have traveled to India for ICC events.

To navigate these strained relations, the ICC adopted a hybrid model for the Champions Trophy. While India’s matches will be played in Dubai, Pakistan’s games in future India-hosted ICC tournaments will also be held at neutral venues.

The captains' press conference and photoshoot are traditional events that mark the beginning of ICC tournaments. Typically, they are held in the host country. However, with the BCCI’s latest request, the ICC may shift these events to Dubai to ensure India’s participation.