Pakistan has proposed the opening ceremony of the Champions Trophy in Karachi on February 17 with high hopes of the Indian captain Rohit Sharma to attend a photo session and the International Cricket Council chairman Jay Shah gracing the occasion.
Pakistan Cricket Board sources told Telecom Asia Sport (www.telecomasia.net) the plan of the opening ceremony has been sent to the ICC for final approval and announcement.
Pakistan Cricket Board sources said, "Since the opening match of the Trophy - Pakistan vs New Zealand - is in Karachi we have planned the opening ceremony in the metropolis city. The ICC has to announce the details and we have to manage the ceremony.”
All the ICC events have an opening ceremony with a photo session of all the captains of the competing teams and that makes Rohit Sharma’s visit to Pakistan a rare possibility.
"We are ready to welcome Rohit and Jay Shah with open arms and there is a plan to have an Indian music group to spice up the event,” sources added.
BCCI President Roger Binny and Vice President Rajiv Shukla did visit Pakistan to attend the opening ceremony of Asia Cup in Lahore in September 2023 and witnessed the opening match of the event – also held on a hybrid model due to India’s refusal to tour Pakistan.
Then India played its matches in Sri Lanka.
If the plans are approved this will be the first occasion an Indian player lands on Pakistan soil in 16 years. India forced the ICC to stage the Champions Trophy on a hybrid model with their matches on a neutral venue in Dubai.
India will play their opening match against Bangladesh in Dubai on February 20.