Rohit Sharma, the ODI and Test captain of India, recently discussed the possibility of his team’s participation in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which will be hosted by Pakistan.
The ninth edition of the Champions Trophy is scheduled to take place in Pakistan in the February- March window in 2025, however, India’s participation in the tournament is uncertain as the BCCI seeks the government’s approval to visit the country.
Furthermore, reports emerged in Indian media, citing a source from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), that Team India will not be visiting Pakistan for the Champions Trophy citing security concerns.
The reports also suggest that the BCCI has expressed their desire to move their matches to Dubai.
During a recent media interaction, Rohit Sharma was asked about the possibility of India’s tour to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy.
In response, he emphasized that the players have no issue in visiting any country to play cricket, however, the ultimate decision rests with the BCCI rather than the players themselves.
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“The decision is not in our hands. It will be made by the cricket boards, and we are focused on the tournament ahead,” said Sharma. “If we are sent to Pakistan, there will be no issue.”
It’s worth noting that Mohsin Naqvi, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, recently revealed that the cricket board is yet to receive any official confirmation from the BCCI about not visiting Pakistan for the global eight-team tournament.
“Although there’s a lot of talk [in media] that India may not come, we have received no official statement [from the BCCI],” said Naqvi.
“Our stance is that India should give us a written confirmation if they are not coming for the Champions Trophy.”
Mohsin Naqvi reiterated that the PCB is not considering a hybrid model and is determined to host the Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan.
“We maintain that the Champions Trophy will only be hosted in Pakistan, and there’s been no discussion of a hybrid model,” he added.
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