Tickets for the blockbuster India-Pakistan clash in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 were sold out within minutes of going on sale on Monday. The overwhelming demand saw over 1,50,000 cricket fans queueing online, leading to wait times of more than an hour.India’s high-stakes encounter with the arch-rivals is set to take place on February 23 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. It is a key group-stage fixture in the 2025 Champions Trophy, which will be played under a hybrid model across Pakistan and the UAE.Also Read: Nita Ambani congratulates the members of India’s women’s U-19 cricket team for winning the World Cup
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Friday sought to allay concerns about the country’s preparedness for the upcoming Champions Trophy, stating that the three venues in Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi are ready to host the ODI showpiece on the scheduled dates.The Champions Trophy is set to begin on February 19, and there have been concerns about whether Pakistan will be ready in time for the marquee event, which features the world’s top eight teams and will be held for the first time since 2017.While the tournament venues in Karachi and Rawalpindi are still partially under construction or undergoing renovation, the images emerging from those locations have not painted an entirely positive picture. However, a confident Naqvi assured that Pakistan and its venues are prepared to host the ICC event fittingly.Naqvi explained that while Gaddafi Stadium will be ready when it is inaugurated on February 7 by the Prime Minister, some work on the National Stadium in Karachi and Rawalpindi Stadium would continue after the tournament. However, he assured that all necessary work to ensure a top-class viewing experience for spectators and viewers would be completed by the time the National Stadium is inaugurated on February 11.Naqvi also addressed criticism regarding the quality of the chairs installed at Gaddafi Stadium, noting that they were made in China and come with a 20-year warranty.(With PTI inputs)
