ICC Champions Trophy 2025: ICC has released the schedule of ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025. The tournament will be played in Pakistan and UAE from 19 February to 9 March. This is the 15th edition of this prestigious tournament between eight teams. The last time the Champions Trophy was held was in 2017, in which Pakistan won the title.
ICC Champions Trophy competition, which started in 1998, was earlier called the ICC Knockout Trophy. So far India and Australia have won it the most times (two each). Pakistan won this title in 2017. Waiting for the India-Pakistan match, the eyes of the fans are now fixed on February 23, when both the teams will face each other in Dubai.
This time in the tournament, Pakistan will host a global cricket tournament for the first time since 1996. At the same time, UAE has been chosen as a neutral venue. A total of 15 matches will be played in the tournament in which teams like India, Pakistan, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Australia, South Africa, England and Afghanistan will participate. The teams have been divided into two groups, each of which will have 4 teams.
Check out the full fixtures for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. pic.twitter.com/oecuikydca
— ICC (@ICC) December 24, 2024
The opening match of the tournament will be played between Pakistan and New Zealand in Karachi on February 19. On February 23, there will be a high-voltage match between India and Pakistan in Dubai. The first semi-final of the tournament will be played in Dubai on March 4 and the second semi-final on March 5 in Lahore. The final match will be held in Lahore on March 9. However, if India reaches the final, then this match will be held in Dubai.
There was a long tussle between the Pakistan Cricket Board and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding the hybrid model. Pakistan had once hinted at boycotting the Champions Trophy. However, after the intervention of the ICC, Pakistan showed leniency and then accepted the hybrid model with a condition. The ICC recently approved the hybrid model. The teams of India and Pakistan will not travel to each other’s country for the ICC tournament.
ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Groups
| Group A | Group B |
| Pakistan | South Africa |
| India | Australia |
| New Zealand | Afghanistan |
| Bangladesh | England |
The Champions Trophy 2025 will have eight teams playing in the tournament, which are divided into two groups. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals. Group A consists of Pakistan, India, New Zealand and Bangladesh, while the other group consists of Australia, South Africa, Afghanistan and England.
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ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Schedule
| Date | Match | Venue |
| 19 February | Pakistan vs New Zealand | National Stadium, Karachi |
| 20 February | Bangladesh vs India | Dubai International Cricket Stadium |
| 21 February | Afghanistan vs South Africa | National Stadium, Karachi |
| 22 February | Australia vs England | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| 23 February | Pakistan vs India | Dubai International Cricket Stadium |
| 24 February | Bangladesh vs New Zealand | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium |
| 25 February | Australia vs South Africa | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium |
| 26 February | Afghanistan vs England | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| 27 February | Pakistan vs Bangladesh | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium |
| 28 February | Afghanistan vs Australia | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| 1 March | South Africa vs England | National Stadium, Karachi |
| 2 March | New Zealand vs India | Dubai International Cricket Stadium |
| 4 March | First Semi-Final | Dubai International Cricket Stadium |
| 5 March | Second Semi-Final | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| 9 March | Final | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
All the matches will start at 2:30 pm Indian time. If India qualifies, then India will be included in the first semi-final, while if Pakistan qualifies, then Pakistan will be included in the second semi-final. On the other hand, if India qualifies for the final, then the title match will be played at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
This competition, which started in 1998, was earlier called the ICC Knockout Trophy. So far, India and Australia have won it the most number of times (two each). Pakistan won this title in 2017. Fans are now waiting for the India vs Pakistan match on 23rd February 2025, when both the teams will face each other in Dubai at such a big scale.
India had refused to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy to be held in February-March due to security concerns. Indian players have not played any matches in Pakistan since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that killed 150 people. The last bilateral series between the two arch-rival nations was played back in 2012 and after that these teams have only played in ICC tournaments.