Rohit Sharma To Lead In Champions Trophy, Says Jay Shah; Are India Ready To Play In Pakistan?

Mumbai: Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah confirmed on Sunday that Rohit Sharma will lead India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and World Test Championship (WTC) cycle ending next year.

While that clears any possible doubts over Rohit continuing as captain in the longer formats after quitting T20Is recently, Shah’s statement has also led to speculation over India travelling to Pakistan next year for the Champions Trophy.

“On November 19, 2023, after winning 10 matches, we won hearts, but we were not able to win the (ODI World) Cup. I said in Rajkot that on June 29 (2024), we will win hearts, win the (T20 World) Cup and hoist the flag in Barbados. And our captain hoisted it there,” Shah said in a video shared by the BCCI. “After this win, in the upcoming ICC events — WTC final and the Champions Trophy — I am fully confident that our team, under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy, will become champions.”

Pakistan are scheduled to host the ODI Champions Trophy from February 19 to March 9, 2025.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has drawn up the schedule in such a way that India will play all their matches in Lahore, including the marquee group league clash against Pakistan.

PCB is learnt to have approached BCCI with its plan for Team India, but there was no response from this side of the border.

Hence, Shah’s announcement is seen by many as a change in policy.

Though India and Pakistan senior teams have been competing against each other in global ICC tournaments on neutral territory, there has been no bilateral cricket between the two nations for the past 11 years. India last toured Pakistan in 2008, while Pakistan’s previous visit was for a short series during December 2012 and January 2013.

The BJP government at the Centre has not been in favour of any action between the two teams on Indian or Pakistani soil because of repeated cross-border terrorism targeting our country.

Rohit’s men will, of course, need permission from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy next year.

Jay Shah being Indian Home Minister Amit Shah’s son, his words could point to a possible softening of the government’s stand.

Or will BCCI push for India’s matches to be played on its soil?