THE will-he-or-won’t-he question has been answered. Rohit Sharma can well stay in Dubai – there is no need for him to go to Pakistan. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) have cancelled their planned opening ceremony for captains’ photo-up.
“An opening ceremony was never announced either by the ICC or the PCB,” said a source well-versed with the development. The PCB did not comment but did not deny that there won’t be an opening ceremony or captains’ photo-shoot.
There has been a sense of anticipation on whether Rohit will cross the Wagah, the first time a current Indian player would have stepped into the Pakistani soil since 2008. It will no longer be needed as there are no official functions for this.
The authorities cite recent examples to substantiate the argument that no opening ceremony was planned. “The last opening ceremony with all the participating players taking part was held in Dhaka 2011. Never after,” said a source.
The diplomatic dynamic cannot be overlooked in this decision. The Indian government has been red-flagging the cricket team’s visit to Pakistan. It can only be a conjecture if it has opposed the captain’s travel to Karachi, where an opening ceremony was reportedly planned. But Rohit not going to Pakistan is in line with the government’s policy.
To emphasise the point, the organisers emphasise that no photo-shoot was held before the last Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies and then the US. “Nor was there a press conference before the tournament started,” it was pointed out. All 10 captains were called for a press conference in Ahmedabad, before the start of the 2023 World Cup.
The organisers explained that an opening ceremony or an official gathering of the captain was not possible because of different dates of arrival of the teams in Pakistan. The England team, currently in India, is reaching Lahore on February 18, almost a week after playing the last ODI, in Ahmedabad on February 12. It is being said that the England team is taking a break after the India white ball series.
Australia will be reaching Pakistan on February 19, five days after finishing their two-Test series in Sri Lanka on February 14. England and Australia, both in the same group, are slated to play in Lahore on February 22. “Both the sides have taken a break en-route to Lahore,” the source said.
“Because the two sides will arrive either a day before or on the day of the opening match, all captains will not be available in the lead-up to the tournament. As such, no captains’ photo-shoot or joint-press conference will be held,” the source said, confirming that India’s captain will not be needed in Pakistan.
It has been learned that the PCB will go ahead with the pre-event ceremonies that were planned to unveil the refurbished stadiums in the country. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will inaugurate the renovated Gaddafi Stadium on February 7 while President Asif Ali Zardari will do the same at the National Stadium in Karachi on 11. Locally, the PCB will conduct an inaugural of the Champions Trophy on February 16. The inauguration will be held at the Lahore Fort in which top PCB and ICC officials will be present. (Cricbuzz)