The ICC Champions Trophy 2025, hosted by Pakistan, will begin on February 19. India will play all its matches in Dubai under the hybrid model. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had earlier refused to send the team to Pakistan due to security concerns. After a lengthy dispute, the issue of the hybrid model was resolved between the BCCI and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). However, there are still two points of disagreement between the two boards. The BCCI is now determined to address PCB’s arrogance.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) does not want the name of the host country, Pakistan, on its players’ jerseys. It is a tradition in International Cricket Council (ICC) events for players to wear jerseys bearing the host nation’s name. However, the BCCI is also not planning to send Rohit Sharma for Captains Day. Captains Day, held before the tournament, includes a photoshoot and a press conference with all the team captains. No official announcement has yet been made regarding the location of this event.
BCCI Requests Captains Meet to Shift to Dubai
According to a report in the Times of India, the BCCI has asked the ICC to shift both the Captains Day and photoshoot to Dubai. This follows ICC’s acceptance of India’s request to move the Champions Trophy matches under the hybrid model. A BCCI source said, “Since ICC has already agreed not to host India’s matches in Pakistan, these are minor issues now.”
ROHIT WON’T GO TO PAKISTAN.
– The BCCI is firm with the decision to not send Rohit Sharma to Pakistan for Captain’s meet and photoshoot. (Gaurav Gupta). pic.twitter.com/wuXODCdrnw
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 22, 2025
India’s Fixtures in Group A
The Champions Trophy features eight teams divided into two groups. India is in Group A with Pakistan, Bangladesh, and New Zealand. India’s schedule:
February 20: India vs. Bangladesh
February 23: India vs. Pakistan
March 2: India vs. New Zealand
If India progresses, the semi-finals and final will also be held in Dubai.
Imagine relocating the entire captains’ meet and photoshoot to Dubai just to accommodate one team’s captain
#CT25 pic.twitter.com/zpl6HDttOo
— Cricketangon (@cricketangon) January 22, 2025
Indian Squad for Champions Trophy
Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (VC), KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja.