NEW DELHI: The 2025 edition of the Champions Trophy will not have a pre-tournament captains photo-op due to different arrival schedules of participating teams. It is reliably understood that there are a lot of hurdles in getting all captains together before the tournament gets underway as even England and Australia will be reaching Pakistan late due to their ongoing international assignments.
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The development means there is no need for India captain Rohit Sharma to travel to Pakistan and he can stay with the Indian team in Dubai – where they play the three group matches and also the knockouts if they qualify.
It is learnt that the Indian team is likely to leave for Dubai on February 15 and more clarity on the departure schedule is expected in the coming days.
Rohit Sharma and Co. will be camped in Dubai and are unlikely to play a warm-up game before their opening game vs Bangladesh on February 20. Various options were explored but since most teams will be in Pakistan for their matches, it was difficult arranging a fixture.
It is further understood that the Indian camp is okay with quality net sessions as they are scheduled to play three ODIs vs England before starting their Champions Trophy campaign.
PCB to have an event in Lahore
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has planned an event in Lahore ahead of the Champions Trophy. There were discussions of having it in Karachi but it has now been moved to Lahore. It is learnt that opening ceremonies/events are carried out by host nations and Pakistan have decided to have it in Lahore.
The venues in Pakistan are yet to be handed over to the global cricket body but PCB are confident to finish the work in the coming week. The multi-nation tournament gets underway on February 19 and the final will happen on March 9.
If India qualify for semi-final, they will play that fixture in Dubai only and even the final will be moved there if India make it to the title clash.
