The opening ceremony of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 started at the Lahore Fort on Sunday night.
The ceremony with the speeches of ICC CEO Geoff Allardice and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
Earlier, Punjab Sports Minister Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar and Special Assistant to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Amir Mir arrived at the Dewan-e-Khas of Lahore Fort. Officials of the International Cricket Council (ICC) too arrived at the venue. ICC event head Sarah Edgar also arrived at the venue.
Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan, former Test cricket Wahab Riaz, former provincial minister Murad Ibrahim were among the guests who arrived at the Lahore Fort before the ceremony began.
Laser lights were installed at the gate of the Gaddafi Stadium that showed names of the teams participating in the Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said the world saw that Pakistan is ready to host the Champions Trophy. He said that Pakistan secured the event after its untiring efforts and prepared stadiums for matches in record time. He welcomed the teams participating in the event and praised ICC officials’ role in making this event happen.