Indian sports journalist Vikrant Gupta has expressed his desire to visit Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, provided he is granted a visa by the Pakistani government.
The thrilling 19-day event, set to begin on February 19, 2025, will see eight of the world’s top teams competing in 15 high-stakes matches hosted by Pakistan. However, due to India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan, all of India’s matches will be played in Dubai under a hybrid model.
Speaking to Independent Urdu, Vikrant Gupta shared his views, stating:
“If Pakistan’s government grants me a visa, I would happily travel there. We miss covering such major tournaments, but unfortunately, it is not in our control. We know the Champions Trophy will be played under a hybrid model, with the Indian team not traveling to Pakistan.”
“Pakistan Has a Golden Opportunity to Showcase Its Cricketing Strength”
Gupta believes Pakistan hosting the Champions Trophy is a significant milestone, as all teams—except India—are willing to play in the country. He sees this as an excellent chance for Pakistan to prove its capability as an international cricket venue.
Regarding the injury of New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra during the tri-series in Pakistan (featuring New Zealand, South Africa, and Pakistan), Gupta speculated that floodlights might have played a role, but he emphasized that only the injured player and other fielders could confirm the actual cause.
“Stadium Preparations a Last-Minute Risk, But That’s How We Work!”
Discussing Pakistan’s Champions Trophy stadium preparations, Vikrant compared it to India’s Wankhede Stadium renovations, which took a year. He noted that completing stadium work just one week before the event is a big risk but humorously added:
“In both India and Pakistan, we have a habit of finishing things at the last minute—even at weddings, the caterers arrive just before the event!”
“Top 4 Favorites for Champions Trophy”
When asked to pick his top four teams for the tournament, Gupta included:
✅ India
✅ Pakistan
✅ Australia
✅ Afghanistan
The Champions Trophy will feature two groups:
Group A: Defending champions Pakistan, India, New Zealand, and Bangladesh
Group B: Australia, Afghanistan, England, and South Africa
With all of India’s match tickets sold out, the Indian team, led by Rohit Sharma, will begin their campaign on February 20 against Bangladesh in Dubai, followed by the much-anticipated clash against Pakistan on February 23, and a match against New Zealand on March 2. The final is set for March 9.
