No opening ceremony, pre-photoshoot for Champions Trophy: report

The International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy 2025 will not have an opening ceremony as two teams are arriving late in Pakistan, media reports have claimed. A pre-tournament press conference and a photoshoot featuring the eight captains in Karachi have also been cancelled. 

According to reports, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket Australia (CA) have shared their travel plans with the ICC. England will arrive in Lahore on February 18, while Australia will reach Lahore on February 19. Bangladesh and India will land in Dubai on February 15, while Afghanistan will arrive in Islamabad on February 12. New Zealand and South Africa will already be in Pakistan, as they will play a tri-nation ODI series in Lahore and Karachi from February 8 to 14.

The first match of the tournament between Pakistan and New Zealand is scheduled for February 19 in Karachi.

Reports reveal that England has decided to take a one-week break after their white-ball series in India, which ends on February 12. Similarly, Australia will finish their series in Sri Lanka on February 14 and take a four-day rest before arriving in Pakistan.

An ICC official, speaking anonymously, mentioned that although both the ICC and PCB were interested in organizing an opening ceremony, the arrival schedules of England and Australia made it impossible. Managing players' workload is now a major priority, and teams have the right to decide their travel plans. The host country only takes responsibility once the teams arrive, reports said.

Due to their late arrival, England and Australia have also decided to skip warm-up matches. Each team was allowed two practice games, but both agreed to enter the tournament without playing any warm-ups. This decision is similar to what teams did in previous ICC events, including the 2024 tournament in the USA and the West Indies.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) clarified that discussions were held regarding an opening ceremony, but no official confirmation was made. A PCB official stated that while plans were in progress, some misunderstandings led to the impression that an opening ceremony would take place.

Reports mention that, despite the cancellation, PCB is still planning special events to celebrate hosting a major ICC tournament after 29 years. The board is focusing on organizing activities before the Pakistan vs. New Zealand match on February 19. The stadiums have been upgraded, and significant efforts have been made to prepare for the tournament. More details about the planned event will be shared later.

The PCB also confirmed that any opening event required all teams to participate, which was not possible with clashing travel schedules.

Pakistan will host at least 10 matches of the tournament, while Dubai will host three, including India's matches and the first semi-final. If India does not qualify for the final on March 9, it will be held in Lahore at Gaddafi Stadium. However, if India qualifies, the final will take place in Dubai.