LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) is slated to organise the opening ceremony of the 2025 Champions Trophy on February 16 in Lahore, according to a report.
A source in the PCB told PTI that chairman Mohsin Naqvi had approved a scheduled list of events prior to the first match of the tournament on February 19 at the National Stadium in Karachi between Pakistan and New Zealand.
The PCB will officially open the renovated Gaddafi stadium on February 7 for which Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has been invited as the chief guest.
On February 11, the PCB will launch the renovated National Stadium in Karachi with a ceremony in which President Asif Ali Zardari has been invited as the chief guest.
The source said the PCB and ICC were also working out the schedule of the captains press conference and photoshoots. They are likely to be held in Lahore on February 16.
The opening ceremony is scheduled at Huzoori Bagh at the historic Lahore fort in which officials of different boards, celebrities, legends of the game, and government officials will be invited.
The ICC and PCB are yet to confirm if Indian captain, Rohit Sharma, would be travelling to Lahore for the events.
India and Pakistan only play each other in multi-national events and have not had a bilateral series since 2012. The last bilateral Test series between the two nations was in 2007 when Pakistan visited India. India last toured Pakistan for a Test series in 2006 and two years later featured in the Asia Cup hosted in Pakistan.
Pakistan last visited India in 2023 for the 50 overs World Cup and played the archrivals in Ahmedabad.
India will be playing their Champions Trophy matches in Dubai as part of a hybrid model deal between the ICC, PCB and BCCI and if they qualify for the final, then the title clash would also be held in the UAE city on March 9.