Prior to this, Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore will host its own opening event on February 7, and the National Stadium in Karachi will have an inauguration ceremony on February 11. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to attend the Lahore event, while President Asif Ali Zardari is slated to be the chief guest in Karachi.

However, England and Australia will miss the opening ceremonies due to late arrival schedules. England arrives on February 18 and Australia on the 19, making participation impossible. This late arrival also means both teams will forgo their allotted warm-up matches.

Other participating teams, including New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Africa, will already be in the country following a tri-nation ODI series. India and Bangladesh are scheduled to arrive on February 15, while Afghanistan will arrive on February 12.

Pakistan is set to host at least ten matches of the tournament, with Dubai hosting three matches involving India and the first semi-final. The final, on March 9th, will be in Lahore if India does not qualify; otherwise, it will be held in Dubai. The opening match between Pakistan and New Zealand is scheduled for February 19 in Karachi.