The colourful inaugural ceremony of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is set to take place at Deewan-e-Aam, Lahore Fort, today (Sunday, February 16), reported 24NewsHD TV Channel.
The ceremony will begin at 7 PM, featuring a performance by renowned singer Atif Aslam, who will present the official song of the tournament.
The channel reported that a special panel discussion with international cricket legends is also scheduled.
Top officials from the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will attend the event.
Interestingly, despite four teams already stationed in Karachi, Lahore has been chosen as the venue for this grand opening.
Another inaugural event will be held in Karachi on February 19. While the eight-nation ICC Champions Trophy will officially commence on February 19, with hosts Pakistan taking on New Zealand in Karachi.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the prize money for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, with the winning team set to receive a massive $2.24 million, while the runner-up will take home $1.12 million.
This year, the ICC has increased the total prize fund by 53% compared to the previous edition. A total of $6.9 million will be distributed among the participating teams.
The two losing semi-finalists will each receive $560,000, while teams will earn an additional $34,000 for every group-stage match victory.
The teams finishing in fifth and sixth place will be awarded $350,000 each, whereas the seventh-placed team will take home $140,000.
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is scheduled to take place from February 19 to March 9, with Pakistan hosting the prestigious tournament.
The ICC had earlier announced the fixtures and groupings for the tournament, with Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi hosting matches in Pakistan.
Additionally, Dubai will serve as an alternative venue, particularly for India’s matches, including the highly anticipated Pakistan-India clash on February 23.
A total of 15 matches will be played, with the top eight teams from the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 competing for the title. The tournament will feature two groups:
Group A: Pakistan, India, New Zealand, Bangladesh
Group B: Australia, England, South Africa, Afghanistan
The grand final is set to take place in Lahore on March 9. However, if India qualifies for the final, it will be played in Dubai. Both semi-finals and the final will have reserve days.
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 was officially unveiled at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on February 8, marking the beginning of the countdown to one of international cricket’s most prestigious tournaments.