PCB to inaugurate Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium on February 7, Ali Zafar, other stars to perform at ceremony

The preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 have neared the horizon in Pakistan. The venues in Pakistan that will be hosting the matches at the marquee event will be the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, the National Stadium in Karachi, and the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, while the Indian team will be playing all of their matches in Dubai.

Though there was a lot of drama behind the stadiums and if they will be ready before schedule, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had made it clear that the venues for the Champions Trophy will be ready ahead of schedule. Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has announced on social media that the Gaddafi Stadium will be inaugurated on February 7 and the ceremony for the same will kick off at 7 pm local time.

The event will also feature some big musical personalities in Pakistan that include artists Ali Zafar, Arif Lohar, and Aima Baig. After this, the board will also host a dinner in honour of the workers who worked hard on revamping and renovating the ground for the tournament.

“I sincerely thank the workers for making the impossible task possible. Despite criticism, the entire team worked tirelessly,” said the PCB chairperson in a press conference ahead of the announcement. 

In the presser, Naqvi further said that the National Stadium at Karachi will be inaugurated on February 11. The same venue will also be hosting the opening game of the tournament between Pakistan and New Zealand. 

Also Check: Watch: Pakistan fan's hilarious request to Kane Williamson ahead of Champions Trophy 2025

Tri-series to begin on Saturday

Just before the eight-team tournament, there will be a Tri-Nation series that will be played with Pakistan, New Zealand, and South Africa participating. The series will be played from February 8 to February 14. There will be three matches played before the final game to determine the two finalists on the last day. 

Pakistan squad: Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Kamran Ghulam, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), Usman Khan (wk), Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Muhammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi

Atif Aslam to voice Champions Trophy theme song

Superstar Pakistani singer Atif Aslam, popular for chartbuster tracks like Aadat, Tu Jaane Na, and Tajdar-E-Haram, has given voice to the theme song for the Champions Trophy 2025. The theme song's teaser was uploaded by ICC on social media carrying lyrics Gully-Gully, Bhari-Bhari, Tujhe-Mujhe Dekhne (The streets are packed to watch you-me play). The ICC also shared that the full song will be released on Friday, February 07.