Delhi: The opening ceremony of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be held in Lahore on 16 February. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and International Cricket Council (ICC) have planned this event together. Earlier there were reports that there will be no inauguration ceremony, but now it has been confirmed that this program will be organized.
All programs were approved
According to a PCB source, Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has approved all the programs to be held before the first match of Pakistan and New Zealand at the National Stadium in Karachi on 19 February. In addition, PCB has completed the renovation of Gaddafi Stadium, and will be officially inaugurated by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on 7 February.
Similarly, a program will also be held in Karachi on 11 February, in which the renovated National Stadium will be inaugurated. In this event, President Asif Ali Zardari has been invited as the chief guest.
ICC and PCB are also planning a press conference and photoshoot of team captains, which are likely to be in Lahore on 16 February. However, it has not yet been officially confirmed by PCB and ICC.
Famous celebrities will be involved in the ceremony
The opening ceremony will be held at Hujuri Bagh of the historic fort of Lahore. It will include various cricket board officials, celebrities, veteran players and government officials. It is not yet clear whether Indian captain Rohit Sharma will come to Lahore for this program or not. India will play all its matches in Dubai and if the Indian team reaches the final, then on March 9, this match will also be played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Preparation of stadiums
However, it is becoming a big challenge for PCB to complete the renewal of stadiums on time. According to a report by Pakistan’s leading newspaper ‘Don’, it seems “almost impossible” to complete the work of stadiums within the deadline for PCB.
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