It is being reported that the PCB and ICC have decided to launch the 2025 Champions Trophy with an opening ceremony on February 16 in Lahore.
As per information provided by the PCB to PTI, the PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, has sanctioned a series of scheduled events to kick off before the first match set for February 19 at National Stadium Karachi, where Pakistan will take on New Zealand.
The PCB plans to inaugurate the newly renovated Gaddafi Stadium on February 7, which will see participation from Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif as a chief guest.
On February 11, the PCB is slated to unveil the renovated National Stadium of Karachi with a ceremony in which President Asif Ali Zardari is invited to be the chief guest.
Along with this, the PCB source said that there has been a buzz in the ICC to host the captains’ press conference and photoshoots, which are likely to be held in Lahore on February 16.
The opening ceremony will be conducted at Huzoori Bagh in the historical Lahore fort, where officials from various boards, celebrities, legends of the game, and government representatives are to be invited.
The ICC and the PCB will confirm whether Rohit Sharma, Indian captain, travels for the events in Lahore.
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India and Pakistan do not compete against each other on occasion of a bilateral series. The last Test bilateral series was last held in 2007 when Pakistan toured India. The last bilateral series India had against Pakistan was in 2006, having started a Test series in 2006 and participated in the Asia Cup held in Pakistan two years afterward.
In 2023, Pakistan last visited India for the 50 overs World Cup and played against the archrivals in Ahmedabad.
India’s Champions Trophy matches are set to be held in Dubai under a hybrid model deal between the ICC, PCB and BCCI; if they qualify for the finals, the title clash will also take place in that UAE city on March 9.
