Champions Trophy 2025: Rohit Sharma and Indian team will skip photoshoot in Pakistan

In an important development ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Team India captain Rohit Sharma may not attend the pre-tournament photoshoot and press conference in Pakistan. 

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed that Rohit Sharma will not travel to Pakistan for the opening ceremony of the event.

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The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is scheduled to be held from 19 February 2025 to 9 March 2025 in Pakistan and UAE. 

Pakistan's matches will be held in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi, while India will play all their matches in Dubai, including the final if they qualify. 

India and Pakistan will face each other on 23 February 2025 in Dubai.

India refused to attend the ceremony 

The host country usually organizes an important event with the captains of all the participating teams. 

It includes a photoshoot and press conference, where the captains share their thoughts on the upcoming competition.

All eight captains, including Rohit Sharma, were expected to attend the event for the Champions Trophy 2025.

According to a report, the BCCI revealed that the board has asked the ICC to shift these events from Pakistan to Dubai, which are scheduled to take place just before the start of the tournament.

"ICC has already accommodated India's request to not schedule its CT matches in Pakistan, so these are minor issues." a source told The Times of India on Tuesday.

BCCI instructed not to wear jerseys with Pakistan's name

BCCI has also instructed its players not to wear jerseys with Pakistan's name on them. The PCB is unhappy with the BCCI's action and is seeking intervention from the ICC.

Expressing concern, a PCB official accused the BCCI of bringing politics into cricket and said that the ICC will not allow it.

'BCCI is bringing politics into cricket'

A PCB official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told IANS, "BCCI is bringing politics into cricket, which is not at all good for the game. They refused to travel Pakistan. They don't want to send their captain for the opening ceremony, now there are reports that they don't want host nation (Pakistan) name printed on their jersey. We believe that the world governing body (ICC) will not let this happen and support Pakistan."

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What's the rule says

As per the rules, India not wearing the official logo of the hosts, in this case Pakistan, will be a breach of ICC's official clothing code.

The name of the host nation is usually included under the logo of the tournament on the players' jerseys, as is custom.

In previous events where India was host nation, Pakistan had carried India's name on it, including the 2016 T20 World Cup and 2023 ODI World Cup.

They have also done so during the 2021 World Cup despite it being shifted to UAE due to Covid-19 restrictions.