The International Cricket Council (ICC) have announced the schedule of the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 which will start from 19th February and the high voltage India vs Pakistan clash will take place in Dubai on 23 February. As Sports Tak reported in July, the marquee event will take place in a hybrid model where India-centric matches will take place in Dubai.
ICC confirmed that the 50-over tournament will witness 15 matches that will take place in Pakistan and in Dubai. The final of the tournament will be played on March 9.
Pakistan's Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Karachi will host the matches of the marquee event. Rawalpindi and Karachi will host three matches each and Lahore will host the second semifinal and final if India unable to qualify for the finale.
ICC confirmed another report of Sports Tak that Lahore will host the final if India gets out of the tournament. Otherwise, the title decider will take place in Dubai. There will be a reserve day for both the final and semifinal of the mega event.
There will be eight teams Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, and South Africa, alongside hosts Pakistan featuring for the marquee event.
ICC also confirmed Sports Tak's old report where we started that India and Pakistan matches hosted by either country at ICC Events during the 2024-2027 rights cycle will be played at a neutral venue.
The ICC has divided teams into two Groups where Group A of the tournament features current Champions Trophy holders and hosts Pakistan, along with India, New Zealand and Bangladesh and Group B features Cricket World Cup 2023 champions Australia, alongside Afghanistan, England and South Africa.
ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Groups:
Group A |
Group B |
|
India |
South Africa |
|
Pakistan |
Australia |
|
New Zealand |
Afghanistan |
|
Bangladesh |
England |
Defending Champions Pakistan will play the opener clash of the tournament against New Zealand in Karachi and India will lock horns against Bangladesh to start their campaign. India and Pakistan will face each other for their second outing of the tournament.
Champions Trophy Schedule:
|
Date |
Match |
Venue |
|
19 February |
Pakistan v New Zealand |
Karachi, Pakistan
|
|
20 February |
Bangladesh v India |
Dubai |
|
21 February |
Afghanistan v South Africa |
Karachi, Pakistan |
|
22 February |
Australia v England |
Lahore, Pakistan |
|
23 February |
Pakistan v India |
Dubai |
|
24 February |
Bangladesh v New Zealand |
Rawalpindi, Pakistan |
|
25 February |
Australia v South Africa |
Rawalpindi, Pakistan |
|
26 February |
Afghanistan v England |
Lahore, Pakistan |
|
27 February |
Pakistan v Bangladesh |
Rawalpindi, Pakistan |
|
28 February |
Afghanistan v Australia |
Lahore, Pakistan
|
|
1 March |
South Africa v England |
Karachi, Pakistan |
|
2 March |
New Zealand v India |
Dubai
|
|
4 March |
Semi-final 1 |
Dubai |
|
5 March |
Semi-final 2 |
Lahore, Pakistan
|
|
9 March |
Final |
Lahore (unless India qualifies, when it will be played in Dubai) |
There will be a reserve day for the semifinal and final if the title decider got abandoned on March 9 then the clash will take place on March 10. All 15 matches in the mega event will be day-night encounters.