The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 may begin without the usual opening ceremony or captains’ press conference due to changes in the arrival schedules for participating teams.
England and Australia are expected to arrive in Pakistan closer to the tournament’s start. England’s tour of India will conclude on February 12, while Australia’s series in Sri Lanka wraps up on February 14. As a result, both teams have opted out of the warm-up matches, a decision in line with previous ICC events where late arrivals hindered practice games.
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Although the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had initially considered hosting an opening ceremony, logistical issues related to the teams’ arrival times led to its cancellation. The PCB clarified that while the opening ceremony was never officially confirmed, it was always a possibility.
Despite these changes, the PCB remains focused on organizing an alternative event to mark the significance of hosting the ICC Champions Trophy for the first time in 29 years. The tournament will kick off with the opening match between Pakistan and New Zealand on February 19 in Karachi. To build excitement, the PCB has announced that a fan celebration will take place before the match.
