ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Sunday launched the highly anticipated Champions Trophy cricket tournament at the iconic Lahore Fort, Pakistani state media reported, following the arrival of participating teams other than India in the South Asian country.
Defending champions Pakistan are the hosts of the Champions Trophy 2025 edition, an eight-nation 50-over cricket tournament. The first match will be played on Feb. 19, when Pakistan face New Zealand in the southern port city of Karachi.
The ceremony was attended by key figures from the International Cricket Council (ICC), the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and ICC member boards, as well as the 2017 Champions Trophy winning squad.
“The global cricket community is closely watching Pakistan’s readiness for the Champions Trophy,” the Radio Pakistan broadcaster quoted PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi as saying at the ceremony.
“[Lahore’s] Qaddafi Stadium and National Stadium [in Karachi] have been prepared in record time to ensure a successful event.”

Naqvi described hosting the tournament as a “great honor” for Pakistan, reiterating the PCB’s commitment to showcasing Pakistan’s rich culture and hospitality to the world.
“The tournament will reflect the warmth and love of the Pakistani people,” he added.
Pakistan will host the tournament from February 19 to March 9 across three venues, including Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi. The South Asian country this month opened the Lahore and Karachi stadiums after months of renovation work and enhancements to improve broadcast quality and spectator comfort.
Despite Pakistan hosting the tournament, four matches, including the first semifinal, will be co-hosted by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Pakistan.
The UAE was inducted as the co-host after the Indian cricket board refused to send its team to Pakistan to play in the tournament due to political tensions and “security concerns.”

The Indian team will play its group matches against Pakistan, Bangladesh and New Zealand at the Dubai Cricket Stadium, while the first semifinal will also be played at the same venue. The final of the tournament will also be played in Dubai if India qualify for it.
New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan, England and Afghanistan have already reached Pakistan. Only two warm-up matches are scheduled in Pakistan while the third and last one will be played in the UAE between Pakistan Shaheens and Bangladesh.

Pakistan won the Champions Trophy tournament in 2017 under former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed’s leadership, beating India in the final by 180 runs in a one-sided contest.