Pakistan is set to host its first ICC event in 29 years, with the Champions Trophy 2025 kicking off today (Feb 19). The last time the country hosted an ICC event was the 1996 World Cup, won by Sri Lanka in the final at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.
Tournament Structure & India’s ‘Fusion’ Model
📍 Venues: Pakistan & Dubai
📍 Participating Teams: 8
📍 Format: Two groups of four; top two teams qualify for semi-finals
🔹 India will play all its matches in Dubai under a ‘fusion’ hosting model, while the rest of the teams will compete in Pakistan.
Pakistan vs New Zealand – Tournament Opener 🇵🇰 vs 🇳🇿
The first match will take place at Karachi’s National Stadium, now renovated and officially reopened for the tournament.
🔥 Upcoming Match to Watch:
🗓 Feb 23 (Sunday) – Pakistan vs India 🏏 at Dubai, the biggest rivalry in cricket!
A Nation in Celebration Mode 🎉
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has transformed the Champions Trophy 2025 into a grand spectacle, with elaborate opening ceremonies and unprecedented aerial displays by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF).
🔹 Opening Ceremony Highlights:
- Held at Lahore Fort’s historic Diwan-e-Aam
- PAF aerial show before the first match
- Grand stadium inaugurations in Karachi & Lahore
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi hailed the event as a “great honour”, with swift renovations at Gaddafi Stadium (Lahore) and National Stadium (Karachi) to ensure world-class facilities.
Star-Powered Event Ambassadors 🌟
The ICC has appointed past cricketing legends as event ambassadors, including:
🏏 Sarfaraz Ahmed (Pakistan’s 2017 winning captain)
🏏 Shane Watson (Australia, 2-time champion)
🏏 Shikhar Dhawan (India, 2013 Player of the Series)
🏏 Tim Southee (New Zealand’s legendary pacer)
🔹 Sarfaraz Ahmed expressed his excitement, recalling the historic 2017 Champions Trophy win and stating:
“I will never forget how special it felt to don the white jackets and lift the trophy aloft as Pakistan captain.”
Record Prize Pool & Rewards 💰🏆
📌 Total Prize Pool: $6.9 million (53% increase from 2017)
📌 Winners: $2.24 million
📌 Runners-up: $1.12 million
📌 Semi-finalists: $560,000 each
📌 Group Stage Win Bonus: $34,000 per match
All eight teams will receive a guaranteed participation fee of $125,000.
A Historic Moment for Pakistan Cricket 🏏
With cricket returning to Pakistan on the biggest stage, fans are in full celebration mode!
🤔 Do you think Pakistan can make history by winning their second Champions Trophy? 🏆
