The ICC Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled to begin on February 19, will kick off without the traditional opening ceremony due to the delayed arrivals of two key teams, England and Australia. While earlier reports had suggested an opening event, official sources confirmed that the ceremony has been canceled as a result of the late arrivals, which are a part of the teams’ pre-scheduled itineraries, according to media reports.
The prestigious tournament, which will run from February 19 to March 9, will feature eight of the world’s top ODI teams, including Pakistan, India, England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. Pakistan is officially hosting the tournament, with matches being held in Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Lahore. However, India’s games, including any knockout matches, will be played in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Typically, the host nation organizes a major event to kick off the tournament, with team captains coming together for a press conference and a group photo. This gathering, which sets the stage for the tournament, has been a staple for ICC events in recent years. However, the cancellation of this year’s opening ceremony has disrupted the usual buildup.
England and Australia are arriving later than the other teams, which has led to the decision to forgo the traditional pre-tournament event. England is scheduled to arrive in Lahore on February 18, while Australia will land on February 19, the day the tournament begins. With the tight timeline, the logistical challenges of organizing a ceremony involving all the teams were deemed unfeasible.
“While the ICC and PCB had shown interest in organizing the opening ceremony, the arrival schedules of England and Australia, considering their players’ workload management, make it impossible to hold any event before the start of the tournament,” an ICC source, who wished to remain anonymous, told The News International.
The delay stems from the busy schedules of both teams. England opted for a one-week break after their white-ball series in India, which concludes on February 12. Meanwhile, Australia, currently engaged in a Test series in Sri Lanka, will take a brief four-day rest before heading to Lahore for the tournament. Due to these commitments, both teams have also opted out of the warm-up matches that typically precede the competition.
Pakistan, New Zealand, and South Africa, on the other hand, will already be in Pakistan following a tri-nation ODI series that takes place from February 8 to 14 in Lahore and Karachi. Pakistan will face New Zealand in the opening match of the Champions Trophy on February 19 in Karachi.
Despite the cancellation of the opening ceremony, the tournament will still proceed as planned, with the first match set to take place between Pakistan and New Zealand. The PCB and ICC emphasized that the decision was made due to logistical challenges posed by the teams’ travel schedules.
A PCB source clarified, “We never confirmed an opening ceremony, as this was neither officially scheduled nor confirmed by the ICC. It was always a work in progress.”