LAHORE: Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan, will inaugurate the new-look Gaddafi Stadium Lahore on February 7 (Friday), as hosts Pakistan and New Zealand will play in the opening match of the event at National Stadium Karachi on February 19 at 2 pm.
All three cricket stadiums in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Karachi are almost set for the action of the 2025 edition of ICC Men’s Champions Trophy.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is going to organise a ceremony at the Lahore Fort (Hazoori Bagh) on February 16 to mark the start of the high-profile event. The ICC representatives, cricketers, and dignitaries are on the list of guests who will attend the ceremony.
On the other hand, President Asif Ali Zardari is likely to inaugurate the upgraded National Stadium Karachi on February 11 (Tuesday).
The PCB is ready to welcome the teams and dignitaries to the country amid preparations for providing fool-proof security to the visiting teams and guests.
The ICC Chairman is on the long list of guests the PCB has invited to the country for the Champions Trophy. The guests would arrive on different days during the event.
Champions Trophy photo-shoot
This time, ceremonial event; the Captains’ photo-shoot would not be possible as the teams wouldn’t assemble at one place due to the tournament being played under a hybrid model in Pakistan and Dubai.
However, the PCB may plan to hold the photo-shoot ceremony some other time. According to the reports, the amount incurred on the renovation of the three stadiums and construction of PCB head-office has exceeded expectations and, subsequently, the PCB has asked the ICC for additional funds by handing over the revenue to be collected from tickets sold during the Champions Trophy.
Opener Fakhar Zaman, Faheem Ashraf and all-rounder Khushdil Shah have returned as PCB Friday announced a 15-member squad for the high-profile event, scheduled to take place in Pakistan from 19 February to 9 March.
The PCB has until 11 February to make any changes to the squad. After that, replacements will only be allowed on medical grounds, also subject to approval by the ICC Event Technical Committee.
