By Zainab Shafiq 
The build-up to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be a step away from tradition, as no official captain’s call or photoshoot will take place before the tournament. This is a departure from previous ICC events, where captains of participating teams would meet for a pre-tournament press conference and photoshoot in the host nation.
No Official Captain’s Call or Photoshoot for Champions Trophy, ICC Announces Alternative
Pakistan will host its first ICC tournament in nearly three decades, but the PCB confirmed that instead, it will stage a special event in Lahore on Feb 16, three days before the opening match. The top officials of the ICC will also be there, but the event will not be treated as an official tournament launch, and will only be “supported by the ICC”.
The logistical constraints and scheduling conflict are given as the main reasons for bypassing the conventional skipper’s media press conference and photoshoot. Teams will arrive in Pakistan just a few days before the tournament commences, with Australia only landing on February 19th – the day of its first game.
Hybrid Model and India-Pakistan Relations Influence Tournament Preparations
The lack of a formal captain’s meeting also avoids diplomatic tension on India’s involvement in Pakistan. Since no bilateral cricket has been played between the two countries since 2012, India’s matches will be played in Dubai under a hybrid model-a compromise that addresses political sensitivities. If India reach the final, their match will be played at the neutral venue too.
This is similar to the strategy adopted for the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup, which instead of holding an in-person captains’ event, it opted for a virtual launch in New York City, where team captains were projected onto the Rockefeller Centre.
Grand Stadium Inaugurations in Lahore and Karachi
Apart from the Lahore showpiece, the PCB has already planned the mega ceremonies to re-open the renovated Gaddafi Stadium (Lahore) and National Stadium (Karachi). Pakistan PM Shahbaz Sharif will officially inaugurate the revamped Gaddafi Stadium on February 7 in the lead up to a tri-series involving Pakistan, South Africa, and New Zealand. In return, President Asif Ali Zardari is scheduled to open the Karachi stadium on February 11.
With these key developments shaping the lead-up to the Champions Trophy, fans can expect a unique start to this much-anticipated tournament, despite the absence of traditional pre-tournament rituals.
Source: ESPNCricinfo
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