LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced an exciting lineup of musical talent for the inauguration ceremony of the newly renovated Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, scheduled to take place before the Champions Trophy 2025. PCB introduces free entry for the ceremony set to kick off at 7 pm on Friday
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced in a post on X. It revealed that the inauguration ceremony would feature prominent faces of Pakistan’s music industry, including Ali Zafar, Aima Baig and Arif Lohar.
The board has decided against charging people who can attend the ceremony—set to kick off at 7 p.m. and featuring a fireworks display—free of cost.
Furthermore, the PCB chief will also host a dinner honoring workers involved in the venue’s comprehensive upgrade work spanning over multiple months tomorrow.
This development comes as Naqvi announced, during a presser last month, the inauguration of Gaddafi Stadium and Karachi’s National Stadium on February 7 and 11, respectively.
The venues have undergone significant renovations as they will host Champions Trophy matches and the Rawalpindi stadium.
Gaddafi Stadium will host its first Champions Trophy match on February 22. It will feature a thrilling clash between traditional cricket rivals England and Australia.
The eight-team tournament, comprising 15 matches, will commence on February 19 and culminate on March 9.
The teams are divided into two groups. Group A includes Pakistan, India, New Zealand and Bangladesh, while Group B includes Afghanistan, South Africa, England and Australia.
Hosts Pakistan will take on New Zealand in the curtain raiser on February 19 in Karachi, while the blockbuster clash between arch-rivals Pakistan and India is scheduled for February 23 in Dubai.
Pakistan will host 10 matches, while four games, including all three of India’s group-stage matches and the first semi-final, will be played in Dubai.
The final of the Champions Trophy is scheduled to be played in Lahore, but if India qualifies, it will be held in Dubai.
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Schedule for the Lahore Leg of the Champions Trophy.
**Match Schedule:**
February 26 — Afghanistan v England, Lahore
February 28 — Afghanistan v Australia, Lahore
March 5 — Semi-final 2, Lahore
March 9, Final — Lahore (unless India qualify, when it will be played in Dubai)