Despite India’s Champions Trophy matches being held at a neutral venue, reports suggest that India’s team captain is set to visit Pakistan for the opening ceremony of the prestigious tournament. The Champions Trophy, returning after an eight-year break, is expected to feature a grand opening event, planned by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
The opening ceremony is scheduled for February 16 or 17, depending on the warm-up match schedule. As is the norm for ICC events, all team captains will attend the ceremony. The 2025 Champions Trophy will be Pakistan’s first major ICC event as hosts since the 1996 Cricket World Cup, which was co-hosted with India and Sri Lanka.
“Indian Team captain will visit Pakistan to attend the opening ceremony of the Champions Trophy as PCB plans grand event, marking the return of a mega international cricket event to Pakistan after 29 years,” sources told IANS.
The tournament will take place in hybrid format, mostly in Pakistan; however, the group stage as well as all of India’s games and first semi-final in Dubai. And if India progresses to the final, that, too, shall be played at Dubai; however, if it does not go through, it will be a championship match there in Lahore.
