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- Key figures from ICC, PCB, other boards, foreign envoys and cricket legends to attend event at Lahore Fort
- Defending champions Pakistan will play first match of the tournament on Feb. 19 against New Zealand
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will launch the highly anticipated Champions Trophy cricket tournament at the iconic Lahore Fort today, Sunday, state-run media reported as participating teams other than India arrive in the host country.
Defending champions Pakistan are the hosts of the Champions Trophy 2025 edition, an eight-nation 50-over cricket tournament. The first match will be played from Feb. 19-Mar. 9 when Pakistan face New Zealand in the southern port city of Karachi.
The ceremony will be attended by key figures from the International Cricket Council (ICC), the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and ICC member boards. Foreign envoys, former cricketers and Pakistan’s political leadership will also attend the event.
Some captains of competing teams are also likely to attend the event at the sprawling lawns of the fort.
“The ceremony at the Lahore Fort will officially launch the tournament,” the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported on Saturday.
Despite Pakistan hosting the tournament, four matches, including the first semifinal, will be co-hosted by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Pakistan.
The UAE was inducted as the co-host after the Indian cricket board refused to send its cricket team to Pakistan to play in the tournament due to political tensions and security concerns.
The Indian team will play its group matches against Pakistan, Bangladesh and New Zealand at the Dubai Cricket Stadium while the first semifinal will also be played at the same venue.
The final of the tournament will also be played in Dubai if India qualify for it. The traditional captains’ photoshoot will not take place ahead of the trophy due to the absence of Indian skipper Rohit Sharma.
New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan, England and Afghanistan have already reached Pakistan. Only two warm-up matches are scheduled in Pakistan while the third and last one will be played in the UAE between Pakistan Shaheens and Bangladesh.
Pakistan won the Champions Trophy tournament in 2017 under former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed’s leadership, beating India in the final by 180 runs in a one-sided contest.