Champions Trophy: Opening ceremony location and date confirmed

LAHORE: The opening ceremony for the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy was confirmed on Thursday, according to sources.

Opening Ceremonies

It will be held in Lahore on February 16 and cricketers, ICC officials, and important national figures will be in attendance.

Sources also stated that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to inaugurate the new building of the National Stadium Karachi with its own ceremony, which will be held on February 11, and will be attended by President Asif Zardari. Similarly, the Gaddafi stadium is nearing completion, and will hold its opening ceremony on February 7. Sources revealed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will be attending the opening, as well as other ministers and top government officials. A laser show will also reportedly be part of the ceremony.

During the ceremony at Gaddafi stadium on February 7, the PM will be brief about the arrangements for the upcoming champions trophy.

Following the tournament’s opening ceremony on February 16, the first match of the Champions Trophy will take place in Karachi on February 19.

Ticket prices

After a surge of demand for Champions Trophy tickets resulted in the initial 30 per cent available being sold out, prices were raised.

The PCB has now raised prices by 10 per cent following the high demand for group stage match tickets. The opening match of the tournament, Pakistan vs New Zealand, as well as Australia vs England, and Pakistan vs Bangladesh, have already been sold out.

Physical tickets will begin to be sold from February 3 at designated TCS Express centres across Pakistan. Details will be announced in the near future.

By: Usman Khan

Also read: Champions Trophy tickets: PCB increases online sales by 10pc