The Champions Trophy 2025, featuring eight top ODI teams, will be played from February 19 to March 9. Pakistan is the official host of the tournament, with matches held in Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Lahore. However, India's games, including knockout matches, will be played in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
However, the upcoming marquee event will begin without an opening ceremony due to England and Australia’s delayed arrivals, as per their schedules submitted to the ICC. The traditional captains' press conference and photo shoot have been canceled, and Rohit Sharma will not travel to Karachi.
New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Africa will already be in Pakistan after playing a tri-nation ODI series in Lahore and Karachi from February 8 to 14. Pakistan will face New Zealand in the tournament's opening match, scheduled for February 19 in Karachi.
“While the ICC and the PCB had shown interest in organising the opening ceremony, the arrival schedules of England and Australia teams, taking into consideration their players’ workload management, make it impossible to hold any event before the start of the tournament,” an ICC source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The News.
England and Australia Withdraw from Warm-Up Matches
“We never confirmed an opening ceremony, as this was neither officially scheduled nor it was confirmed by the ICC. It was always a work in progress,” a PCB source explained.
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