ISLAMABAD: As the excitement builds around the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been busy in finalising arrangements for the mega event, with a plethora of opening ceremonies set to take place across the country.
Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has given his final seal of approval, paving the way for the grand celebrations, which will officially kick off on February 16 at the historic Hazuri Bagh in Lahore.
The festivities will unfold in stages, with the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore hosting its own opening ceremony on February 7, followed by an inauguration event at the National Stadium in Karachi on February 11, courtesy of the PCB’s crafted schedule.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to rub shoulders with the cricket fraternity at the Lahore ceremony, while President Asif Ali Zardari is likely to make an appearance in Karachi.
However, the arrival of some of the tournament’s most prominent teams has thrown a spanner into the works.
With England and Australia opting to take extended breaks to recover from gruelling tours of India and Sri Lanka respectively, their arrival in Lahore and Karachi has been pushed back to February 18 and 19.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh and India will touch down in Dubai on February 15, while Afghanistan will make their entry into Islamabad on February 12.
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Pakistan and New Zealand are set to face off in the opening match in Karachi on February 19.
The source reveals that both England and Australia will forego the mandatory warm-up matches, given their late arrival and subsequent travel fatigue.
Pakistan will serve as the main host, with at least 10 matches scheduled across the country, with Dubai hosting three fixtures and the first semi-final. As for the grand finale, the venue will depend on India’s performance.
If they fail to make it to the final on March 9, the curtain-closer will take place at the iconic Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, while a Dubai showdown awaits if India manages to make a strong run in the competition.