Photo Credit: Instagram Photo of @icctrophytour
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has finalized plans for a series of special events after the original opening ceremony for the Champions Trophy 2025 was cancelled due to the late arrival of several teams.
The cancellation led to the scrapping of the official opening ceremony, as well as pre-tournament events like the captains’ press conference and photoshoot, which were initially scheduled ahead of the tournament’s opening on February 19 in Karachi.
However, recent reports suggest that the PCB has organized alternative special events to mark the occasion. These include ceremonies at two venues, with a main launch event in Lahore, set to take place ahead of the tournament.
According to Geo Super, the PCB has planned three special ceremonies: the first on February 7 at the upgraded Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, followed by one at the National Stadium in Karachi on February 11, and the main ceremony on February 16 at Hazoori Bagh in Lahore.
The events will feature distinguished guests, with the main ceremony in Lahore expected to host key national figures, prominent cricketers, and ICC officials. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is slated to be the chief guest for the February 7 event. “Ahead of Champions Trophy 2025, PCB Appoints Hina Munawar as First Female Team Manager.” Additionally, former President Asif Ali Zardari is expected to attend the February 11 event in Karachi.
These plans were put into place after the official opening ceremony, originally set for February 16, was cancelled due to the delayed arrival of Australia and England. The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will feature eight teams competing for the prestigious title in 15 matches, from February 19 to March 9, across four venues in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Dubai.
Originally planned to be hosted solely by Pakistan, the tournament adopted a hybrid model due to India’s reluctance to travel to Pakistan, citing security concerns. India will play all their matches in Dubai.
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Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
