The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy will not feature the traditional captains' photoshoot or pre-tournament press conference in Pakistan, as confirmed by a source within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday. This decision eliminates the possibility of the Indian captain traveling to Pakistan for any promotional or media-related engagements before the tournament. According to the PCB, the pre-tournament captains' gathering was scrapped due to the tight travel schedules of participating teams. England and India will be engaged in a white-ball series, while Australia will be playing Test and ODI matches in Sri Lanka, making it logistically challenging for teams to assemble for a unified event.
Instead of an official opening ceremony, the PCB will host an inauguration event on February 16 at Huzoor Bagh in Lahore. The Champions Trophy itself is scheduled to take place from February 19 to March 9, with matches being played across three venues in Pakistan and one in Dubai. India, citing security concerns, will not travel to Pakistan and will play all their matches in Dubai. Should they qualify for the final, the title clash will also be held in Dubai.
The PCB has planned a series of pre-tournament events, beginning with the formal reopening of the renovated Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on February 7, with Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif invited as the chief guest. Similarly, the revamped National Stadium in Karachi will be inaugurated on February 11, with President Asif Ali Zardari expected to attend as the chief guest. England is set to arrive in Lahore on February 18, while Australia will reach Pakistan on February 19.
Due to the scheduling constraints, the PCB, in coordination with the ICC, has also decided against an official joint press conference featuring all captains, as not all teams will be available ahead of the tournament. This marks a deviation from past ICC events, where captains typically participate in a collective media session and a photoshoot to mark the start of the competition.
