ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Spectacular Opening Ceremony in Karachi
A grand opening ceremony in Karachi, featuring a
breathtaking aerobatic display by the Pakistan Air
Force’s (PAF) world-renowned Sherdil Squadron
Staff Reporter
Karachi: The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 officially began with a grand opening ceremony in Karachi, featuring a breathtaking aerobatic display by the Pakistan Air Force‘s (PAF) world-renowned Sherdil Squadron.
The highlight of the ceremony was the PAF flypast, gracing Karachi’s skies after a five-year hiatus. The Sherdil Squadron, meaning “lion-hearted” in Urdu, performed intricate manoeuvres with Karakoram-8 aircraft, including barrel rolls, loops, and bomb bursts, leaving trails of coloured smoke. Pakistani-made JF-17 Thunder and F-16 fighter jets added to the spectacle, making it a historic first for a Champions Trophy ceremony.
President Asif Ali Zardari attended as the chief guest, alongside Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and other dignitaries.
Following the ceremony, Pakistan faced New Zealand in the opening match at Karachi’s National Bank Stadium. Pakistan’s playing XI featured key players like Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Saud Shakeel, and captain Muhammad Rizwan. New Zealand’s squad included Kane Williamson, Glenn Phillips, and Tom Latham.
New Zealand outclassed Pakistan, securing a 60-run victory to start their campaign on a high note. Pakistan will now head to Dubai for their highly anticipated clash against India on February 23, while New Zealand takes on Bangladesh on February 24.
To ensure smooth operations during the flypast, a specific air corridor was closed from 2:30 pm to 3:00 pm, with rehearsals held from February 17 to 19. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), advising commercial flights arriving at Karachi Airport to carry extra fuel and take necessary precautions.
Unitree has priced its Shanghai initial public offering at 150.8 yuan per share, with subscriptions…
World Liberty-linked AI Financial Corp has sold its Canadian subsidiary, ALT5 Sigma Canada, to New…
Scrabble players from Pakistan delivered a standout performance at the 21st World Youth Scrabble Championship,…
FedEx Cup playoff qualification has given 21-year-old Jackson Koivun another major milestone after he secured…
Remittances sent by overseas Pakistanis reached $3.631 billion in July 2026, according to data released…
The government will launch Vision Pakistan 2047 on August 12, aiming to build a trillion-dollar…
This website uses cookies.