The ICC Champions Trophy schedule has been announced ahead of the long-awaited resumption of the tournament in 2025.
The 50-over competition returns to international competition for the first time since 2017, with Pakistan hosting global cricket for the first time since co-hosting the World Cup with India and Sri Lanka in 1996.
The 2025 tournament will mirror the format used in 2017, with eight teams divided into two groups of four teams. Each team plays the other teams from their pool once, then the top two teams advance to the semifinals.
The semi-final winner will bid to win the Champions Trophy and the iconic white jacket in the final to be held in Lahore on March 9.
Defending champions and hosts Pakistan are in Group A along with Bangladesh, India and New Zealand and will play in the tournament opener in Karachi on February 19.
Group B consists of Afghanistan, Australia, England and South Africa, with England’s first match taking place against old rivals Australia in Lahore on February 22, followed by a not-to-be-missed match between Pakistan and India in Dubai on February 23. .
Pakistan won the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017 by beating India by 180 runs at the Oval.
Where are the matches played?
Stadiums in Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi will host matches against Pakistan, while the match featuring India will be held in Dubai.
The neutral stadium in the United Arab Emirates was chosen after the ICC confirmed that all matches between Pakistan and India in ICC tournaments, including next year’s Women’s World Cup, will be played at neutral venues until at least 2027.
Political tensions between the two countries have strained sporting ties and India, cricket’s richest and most powerful nation, has not played in Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup.
As a result, India will play the first semi-final in Dubai if they qualify, while Pakistan will play the second leg of the semi-final in Lahore if they qualify. The final, which was scheduled to be held in Lahore on March 9, will also be moved to the UAE if India qualifies.
India will play the Champions Trophy in the United Arab Emirates.
What is the ICC Champions Trophy?
It’s basically a mini 50-over World Cup.
The 2023 edition took just over six weeks to complete, but while the Word Cup is a bit bloated, the Champions Trophy is short and sharp and will be completed and dusted in about two weeks.
Pakistan are the defending champions, having beaten arch-rivals India in the final at The Kia Oval six years ago, while India and Australia are the most successful side with two wins each.
ICC Champions Trophy Schedule
Group A
- February 19: Pakistan v New Zealand (Karachi)
- February 20: Bangladesh vs India (Dubai)
- February 23: Pakistan v India (Dubai)
- February 24: Bangladesh vs New Zealand (Rawalpindi)
- February 27: Pakistan v Bangladesh (Rawalpindi)
- March 2: New Zealand v India (Dubai)
group B
- February 21: Afghanistan v South Africa (Karachi)
- February 22: Australia v England (Lahore)
- February 25: Australia v South Africa (Rawalpindi)
- February 26: Afghanistan v England (Lahore)
- February 28: Afghanistan v Australia (Lahore)
- March 1: South Africa v England (Karachi)
semifinal
- March 4: Semi-final 1, A1 vs B2 (Dubai)
- March 5: Semi-final 2, A2 vs B1 (Lahore)
critical
- March 9: Semi-final 1 winner v Semi-final 2 winner (Lahore)
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