ISLAMABAD: The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will commence without an opening ceremony due to the late arrival of two participating teams.
Although the ceremony was never officially announced, earlier reports suggested it was under consideration.
According to well-informed sources within the International Cricket Council (ICC), the primary reason for scrapping the event was the arrival schedules submitted by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket Australia (CA).
There will be no opening ceremony for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, following the late arrival of two participating teams, details reveal.
While the opening ceremony was never officially confirmed, reports earlier indicated it was on the cards.
According to well-informed sources in the International Cricket Council (ICC), the arrival schedules provided by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket Australia (CA) to the ICC turned out to be the main reason behind no official ceremony.
England are due to arrive in Lahore on February 18, while Australian team is set to land on February 19. Meanwhile, Bangladesh and India are scheduled to reach Dubai on February 15, whereas Afghanistan will reach Islamabad on February 12.
New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Africa will already be in Pakistan after competing in a tri-nation ODI series in Lahore and Karachi from February 8 to 14.
The opening match between Pakistan and New Zealand is scheduled in Karachi on February 19.
