The Champions Trophy 2025 tournament is scheduled to take place from February 19 to March 9. Recent photographs of the stadiums reveal that there is still a significant amount of work to be done. Despite this, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to host not one, not two, but three opening ceremonies. The first and second opening ceremonies were held on February 7 and 11, respectively, and the third and final ceremony is set to take place on February 16.
Videos from the second opening ceremony in Karachi have gone viral on social media, showing people climbing over walls and grills to enter the stadium. The atmosphere was chaotic, with no sign of management in sight. In one video, the person recording can be heard expressing their frustration, saying, “All doors are closed, and all entry points are blocked. Look at how people are rushing in. The authorities have done this, and there is no management here.”
Why did the crowd surge?
The situation at the Karachi stadium deteriorated after the VIP entry gate, where the management failed to control the crowd. Security was unable to handle the large number of people, and doors were locked, with no further instructions given. As a result, frustrated fans attempted to enter the stadium by climbing over walls and barriers.
Many people took to social media to express their concerns, stating that the lack of security arrangements was evident and might be the reason why teams are hesitant to play in Pakistan. One person joked that good security in Pakistan is just a fantasy. Some even demanded that the entire tournament be shifted from Pakistan to Dubai.