Is Rohit Sharma coming to Pakistan?

NEW DELHI: There is no confirmation yet on whether Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma will travel to Pakistan for the ICC’s captains’ call ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy.

The ninth edition of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy is set to take place from February 19 to March 9 in Pakistan and the UAE.

The captains’ event, typically held before the tournament, is tentatively scheduled for February 16 or 17 in Karachi. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not received any official communication from the ICC on this matter.

“Rohit’s travel to Pakistan has not yet been discussed. It is not on the agenda,” said BCCI’s newly appointed secretary, Devajit Saikia, to ESPNcricinfo.

JERSEY CONTROVERSY: INDIA TO FOLLOW ICC RULES

In another development, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia clarified that the board will adhere to all ICC jersey guidelines for the Champions Trophy.

This follows speculation that India might omit Pakistan’s name from their jerseys, as the Indian team is slated to play all its matches in Dubai.

Political tensions between India and Pakistan have kept bilateral cricket ties frozen since 2008, when India last toured Pakistan for the Asia Cup. The two nations last played a bilateral series in India during the 2012-13 season, featuring limited-overs matches. Since then, they have only competed in ICC tournaments and Asia Cups.

While Pakistan visited India for the 2016 T20 World Cup and the 2023 ODI World Cup, no Indian player has officially traveled to Pakistan in recent years. However, BCCI officials, including president Roger Binny and vice-president Rajiv Shukla, attended a PCB dinner in Lahore during the 2023 Asia Cup, hosted by then PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf.

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