The final ceremony will be held in Lahore on February 16, attended by former cricketers and ICC officials. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has already met with PM Shahbaz Sharif to finalize the arrangements.

The PCB is planning a special celebration for the opening before the Pakistan-New Zealand match on February 19.

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which is set to begin on February 19, will reportedly start with the opening ceremony. The opening ceremony at Gaddafi Stadium is set for February 7, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expected to attend as the chief guest.

Though ICC ensured to keep a day reserve for the captains’ joint photo shoot, PCB reportedly cancelled the event citing the ‘unavailability of teams due to tight traveling schedules’.

India will be playing their Champions Trophy matches in Dubai as part of a hybrid model deal between the ICC, PCB and BCCI and if they qualify for the final, then the title clash would also be held in the UAE city on March 9.

ICC and Pakistan Cricket Board have finalised the plan for the opening ceremony of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 which begins in Pakistan next month.

There will be no captains' photoshoot or conference in Pakistan before the ICC Champions Trophy, a source in the host cricket board told PTI on Thursday, ending the possibility of India skipper travelling to the country for any pre-tournament engagements.

The ICC announced ticket sales for the Pakistan leg of the Champions Trophy despite ongoing stadium renovations. The tournament is set for February 19 across Pakistan and Dubai. The PCB dismissed concerns about delays.