Rohit Sharma Won't Have To Set Foot On Pakistan Soil For CT 2025 As Report Says ICC, PCB Cancel...

The BCCI was against the Indian cricket team going to Pakistan - the designated hosts of the Champions Trophy - and hence the tournament was shifted to a hybrid model, where some games will be played in Dubai

Whether or not Rohit Sharma will go to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025 captains' meet has been a matter of intense speculation. The BCCI was against the Indian cricket team going to Pakistan - the designated hosts of the Champions Trophy - and hence the tournament was shifted to a hybrid model, where India's games will be played in Dubai. Then came the issue of Rohit Sharma travelling to Pakistan for the customary captains' meet - a common practice ahead of any big ICC event. 

Now, a report in Cricbuzz has claimed that Rohit Sharma will not have to go to Champions Trophy as the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have cancelled the planned opening ceremony or captains photo-up.

In fact, it quoted a source as saying: "An opening ceremony was never announced either by the ICC or the PCB. The last opening ceremony with all the participating players taking part was held in Dhaka 2011. Never after."

Another report by news agency PTI quoted a source as saying the PCB was forced to cancel the pre-tournament captains' gathering because of "unavailability of teams due to tight travelling schedules." "The thing is all teams have tight schedules before the tournament. England and India are playing a white-ball series while Australia is playing a Test and ODI series in Sri Lanka," the source said.