Champions Trophy: Captains’ Meet and Opening Ceremony Set for Pakistan Amid Visa Talks

"With visa clearances secured, Pakistan gears up to host captains' meet and opening ceremony ahead of the marquee tournament."

January 16, 2025: The Champions Trophy 2025 is set to kick off with grandeur, as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) prepares to host the captains’ meet and opening ceremony in Pakistan. The PCB has expressed confidence that India’s captain Rohit Sharma will be in attendance, despite India playing all its matches in Dubai due to security concerns.

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Event Schedule and Visa Arrangements

The tournament’s opening ceremony is tentatively scheduled for February 16 or 17, ahead of the first match on February 19 in Karachi. As per PCB sources, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is yet to finalize the dates for the customary captains’ photo-shoot and pre-event press conference.

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The PCB has assured the ICC that it has secured all necessary clearances to issue visas to all players, officials, and captains, including Rohit Sharma and the Indian team delegation. A PCB source said, “This includes Rohit or any other Indian team player, official, or board representative.”

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India’s Matches in Dubai

India has opted not to travel to Pakistan, citing security concerns, and will play its matches in Dubai, starting with a clash against Bangladesh on February 20. Despite this, the PCB has emphasized that the opening ceremony will take place in Pakistan, involving all eight participating teams and their captains, in line with traditional protocols.

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Warm-up matches prior to the tournament are expected to influence the final schedule of the opening ceremony.

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ICC Delegation’s Visit to Pakistan

The PCB recently issued visas to three Indian nationals as part of an ICC delegation visiting Pakistan, demonstrating its commitment to facilitating the participation of all involved parties.

With the PCB and ICC coordinating logistics, the Champions Trophy promises to be a significant cricketing spectacle despite geopolitical tensions.

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