The opening ceremony for the Champions Trophy is speculated to take place on either February 16 or 17, with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) anticipating Indian captain Rohit Sharma's presence at the event.
However, there is still some waiting on the official schedule from the International Cricket Council (ICC), particularly regarding routine captain photoshoots and mandatory pre-tournament press conferences.
The tournament itself will kick off on February 19 in Karachi, but India will play all their matches in Dubai, starting with a clash against Bangladesh on February 20. This decision follows India's refusal to travel to Pakistan due to security concerns.
The PCB has reportedly secured all necessary clearances from its government to ensure the timely issuance of visas for all captains, players, and officials attending pre-tournament events, including those from India, such as Rohit Sharma or any Indian official.
The PCB has made it clear to the ICC that the opening ceremony, which will feature all participating teams and their captains, will be held in Pakistan, as per usual protocols.
With the opening match scheduled for February 19, the opening ceremony is expected on either February 16 or 17, depending on the warm-up match schedule.
Additionally, the PCB recently issued visas to three Indian nationals who were part of the ICC delegation visiting Pakistan, as soon as the names were sent by the ICC.
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