On Sunday, February 16, Lahore hosted a low-key curtain-raiser for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in the Lahore Fort. The ceremony was attended by Mohammad Amir, Azhar Ali, Junaid Khan, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Hassan Ali, Mohammad Hafeez, and Haris Sohail, all members of Pakistan’s victorious Champions Trophy team. Also in attendance was Sarfaraz Ahmed, who eight years ago guided Pakistan to the championship.
The international contingent who attended the event included Tim Southee and JP Duminy. Following a musical and dance performance, the stage was opened for statements by members of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and other guests.
Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of the PCB, spoke to the audience. “I promise all cricket supporters and fans that Pakistan is prepared to win the Champions Trophy.
England and Australia will land in Lahore within the next 48 hours, while four teams have already reached Karachi as of this writing,” Naqvi stated.
“It has taken a lot of work and commitment to host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. We began upgrading Gaddafi and National Stadium to guarantee a top-notch experience. Both locations have been converted into cutting-edge facilities in record time thanks to the laborers’ efforts.”
Sarfaraz, the former captain, expressed his wish that Pakistan would win the title again at home during a panel discussion. “I hope the team can defend the title on home soil,” he stated.
The ceremony was attended by none of the eight participating teams’ captains or players. At first, there were discussions of doing a captain’s photo session in Lahore, but India declined to send Rohit Sharma, their captain. After that, the entire strategy was abandoned.
On the other hand, an opening ceremony is anticipated to take place prior to Pakistan vs. New Zealand’s tournament opener in Karachi on February 19.
India
