The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will not feature the customary captains’ meet and official photoshoot, an event traditionally held in the host country ahead of major ICC tournaments. The decision, attributed to logistical challenges, marks a significant departure from past editions, as confirmed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Instead of a formal opening ceremony, the PCB stated that an ICC-supported event will be held in Lahore on February 16, three days before the tournament’s first match. ICC officials present in Lahore at the time are expected to attend. However, no grand inaugural function has been announced by either the ICC or the PCB.
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One of the key reasons for skipping the captains’ press conference and photoshoot is the tournament’s hybrid model, which sees matches being played across four venues in two countries. With a tight schedule, teams will be arriving in Pakistan just before the competition begins. Australia, for instance, is set to land on February 19, the same day the opening match is scheduled to take place.
This move also helps navigate potential diplomatic sensitivities surrounding India’s participation. Due to ongoing political tensions, India has not played in Pakistan since 2008. Under the hybrid model, all of India’s matches, including a potential final, will be played in Dubai. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently clarified that no discussions had taken place regarding India’s captain Rohit Sharma traveling to Pakistan for a captains’ event, and such a visit was not on their agenda.
Similar adjustments were made during the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup, where logistical complexities led to the ICC replacing the traditional captains’ gathering with a digital launch. Instead of an in-person event, captains’ images were projected onto New York’s Rockefeller Center.
Meanwhile, the PCB is preparing to inaugurate two newly refurbished stadiums ahead of the Champions Trophy. The Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, which has undergone significant renovations, will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on February 7, just a day before it hosts the first ODI of a tri-series featuring South Africa and New Zealand.
The National Stadium in Karachi is also set for an official reopening, with President Asif Ali Zardari scheduled to inaugurate it on February 11.
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