The participation of Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma in the captain’s event ahead of ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan remains shrouded in uncertainty.

The event, tentatively scheduled for February 16 or 17 in Karachi, is all set to bring together all eight participating team captains, but clarity on Sharma’s participation is still awaited.

According to a cricket website, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to address the matter.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has confirmed that no discussions have taken place regarding Sharma’s trip to Pakistan. Saikia added that this matter is not currently on the agenda, leaving it unclear whether government approval would be required for his visit.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reiterated its commitment and has already urged the ICC to ensure that all events surrounding the Champions Trophy are conducted in accordance with established policies and traditions. However, the uncertainty surrounding Sharma’s travel raises questions about the smooth conduct of the pre-tournament procedure.

The ICC has planned a number of traditional events for the tournament, including a photograph of all captains and a press conference where team managers will share their expectations for the competition. These events are a long-standing tradition of ICC tournaments, but logistical and political sensitivities have added complexity to the arrangements this year.

Notably, no captains’ press conference was held for the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup as teams were engaged in warm-up matches over West Indies and USA. Whether this precedent will affect the Champions Trophy’s pre-tournament events remains to be seen.

As in the 2024 T20 World Cup, teams will have the opportunity to play up to two warm-up matches each depending on their arrival time at the Champions Trophy.

Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled from February 19 to March 9, features 15 matches across three Pakistani venues – Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi – as well as Dubai. The eight participating teams will be divided into two groups.

Earlier this month, Indian media speculated that Sharma might travel to Pakistan for the pre-tournament events. However, Saikia dismissed such reports and stated that the BCCI had not received any formal proposal from the ICC. “This is a delicate situation and every step must be taken after assessing its consequences,” Saikia noted.

He further highlighted the challenges posed by Pakistan’s hosting of the event, noting that the BCCI would have to carefully navigate the situation to ensure that diplomatic and logistical compromises are reached.

A contentious matter – the printing of Pakistan’s name on the Indian team’s jerseys – has reportedly been resolved, with the BCCI confirming compliance with ICC rules. “BCCI will follow every uniform related ICC rule during Champions Trophy,” Saikia said. “Whatever the other teams will do in terms of the logo and dress code, we will follow in true letter and spirit.”

However, Sharma’s participation remains uncertain and the absence of India’s captain from the event could cast a shadow over the build-up of the tournament.

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is all set to be a landmark event for cricket in Pakistan, but political sensitivities and logistical challenges may affect its pre-tournament activities.