The 2025 version of the Champions Trophy will kick off with out a gap ceremony or a captains’ day in Pakistan. There have been stories suggesting that Indian skipper Rohit Sharma would have needed to journey to Pakistan had there been a captains’ photoshoot and a press convention however as a consequence of logistical causes, it wasn’t potential as the coming schedules of the groups do not align forward of the eight-side event.
As per ESPNCricinfo, the PCB or the ICC had by no means introduced that there can be a gap ceremony for the brief event, as was the case within the earlier version of the Champions Trophy, within the UK in 2017. Nonetheless, there was a captains’ photoshoot and a press convention. The PCB though, is about to host an occasion on February 16 to declare the Champions Trophy open, which is supported by the ICC.
Whereas Pakistan, New Zealand and South Africa will already be within the host nation following a brief tri-series, Australia are more likely to arrive on the day the event begins, i.e., February 19 after completion of their tour to Sri Lanka on February 14. England’s ODI sequence towards India will finish on February 12 and they’ll additionally journey to Pakistan solely after that.
India play all their matches in Dubai due to the political battle and stress between the 2 nations. As per the newest agreed mannequin, India and Pakistan will each play at impartial venues within the ICC occasions being hosted by the opposite nation at the very least till 2028. Therefore, the Champions Trophy may have Bangladesh, Pakistan and New Zealand arriving within the UAE for a sport every, earlier than one of many semi-finals additionally takes place within the Center East.
Hosts Pakistan tackle New Zealand within the event opener on the Nationwide Stadium in Karachi. Pakistan are the one aspect out of the eight groups but to announce their squad for the multi-team occasion.