Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli agree to visit Pakistan for Champions Trophy 2025

Indian captain Rohit Sharma and star batsman Virat Kohli have agreed to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025, sources said on Tuesday.

According to sports journalist Farid Khan, many Indian cricketers, including Rohit and Virat, have no objections to visiting the neighbouring country for the mega event.

"They are just awaiting approval from the Indian government," the journalist wrote in a post on X citing sources.

Sources: Indian cricketers, including Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli, have no issues in traveling to Pakistan for 2025 Champions Trophy. They are just awaiting approval from the Indian government. They are expected to travel with families to Pakistan for the mega event 🇵🇰🇮🇳❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/NCLFWuuNEB

— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) July 23, 2024

Indian players are expected to bring their families along for the tournament, sources added.

Earlier, the Times of India editorial advised the Blue Shirts to visit Pakistan, promoting sports-related activities and easing tensions between the neighboring countries.

"India has not played any cricket in Pakistan since the Asia Cup in 2008 – mixing sports and geopolitics has little traction beyond a point. It’s nobody’s case that Team India travelling to Pakistan will dramatically change New Delhi-Islamabad relations. But that’s not the point. Sports should always be separate from politics," TOI's editorial read.

"Team India should tour Pakistan provided it is given iron-clad, high-level security," it added.

On the other hand, Earlier, Indian media reported that Blue Shirts would not travel to Pakistan for the ICC tournament.

India's matches are currently scheduled to be held at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has already shared the schedule for the mega event with the International Cricket Council (ICC), which includes a highly anticipated match between Pakistan and India on March 1st at Gaddafi Stadium. 

However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not officially confirmed or denied its country's participation in the tournament.