With focus shifting from Test cricket to ODIs ahead of the Champions Trophy beginning on February 19, all eyes are on the Pakistan, who are hosting the tournament. It will be Pakistan's first major ICC tournament as hosts since the nation co-hosted the 1996 ODI World Cup with India and Sri Lanka.
Though India will be playing their matches in Dubai as part of the hybrid format arrangement by the ICC because of BCCI's security concerns, skipper Rohit Sharma is likely to visit Pakistan ahead of the tournament, according to an IANS report.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is planning a grand opening ceremony for the Champions Trophy, which is making a comeback after eight years, and is likely to be held on February 16 or 17. All team captains take part in the opening ceremony—a standard practice for ICC events.
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The first semifinal will be played in Dubai. If India qualifies for the final, the match will also be moved to Dubai. If not, Lahore will host the match.
India last visited Pakistan in 2008 for the Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka. They had lost to Pakistan by eight wickets earlier in the tournament.
The eight-team event will feature India, Pakistan, New Zealand, England, Australia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and South Africa.
Hosts Pakistan will take on New Zealand in Karachi in the opener and the India-Pakistan match will be held on February 23 in Dubai. India will open their campaign against Bangladesh at the Dubai International Stadium.
Pakistan won the last edition, in 2017, crushing arch-rivals India by 180 runs.