The International Cricket Council (ICC) made the Champions Trophy timetable public on Tuesday, the 24th of December. The much anticipated group stage clash between rivals India and Pakistan has been slated for the 23rd of February. If India makes it all the way to the finals, fans can look forward to the match in the captivating city of Dubai.
New Delhi: On Tuesday, December 24, International Cricket Council unveiled its comprehensive timetable for the Champions Trophy. Besides the listings of all the matches for the partaking teams, the outline also highlighted the locations set for these games. Pakistan, in a partnership with the United Arab Emirates, will be hosting the tournament. The decision hinged on the Pakistan Cricket Board’s acquiescence to a mixed arrangement that would pave the way for India’s involvement in the event.
The cricket world is buzzing with excitement as India and Pakistan go head to head in a much-awaited game on February 23 in Dubai. Should India romp into the championship final, Dubai will play host to the titanic clash again. The cricketing authorities, ICC, heralded the start of the tournament on February 19 with a thrilling Pakistan and New Zealand contest in Karachi. The sporting extravaganza will wrap up on March 9, with the semi-finals and the grand finale having reserve days as additional fixtures.
Every game is scheduled to kick off precisely at 2:30 PM as per Indian Standard Time, and in India, Star Sports is your go-to channel for the live broadcast of each match.
In a groundbreaking decision for the 2025 Champions Trophy, the ICC has decided to adopt a hybrid format, hosting matches in both Pakistan and the UAE. The agreement arose from a mutual understanding that stemmed from dialogues between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
As per the schedule, Pakistan will be the venue for 10 matches. Meanwhile, Dubai gets the chance to host three of India’s league-stage matches, inclusive of the much-anticipated competition against Pakistan. To add to this, one semi-final and the final match are planned to take place in Dubai. However, if India doesn’t manage to reach the final, then the championship match will be shifted to Lahore.
This agreement effectively handles matters related to logistics and geopolitics, making the planning for these major tournaments smooth and well-received by everyone involved.
ICC Champions Trophy 2025 groups
Group A: Bangladesh, India, New Zealand and Pakistan
Group B: Afghanistan, Australia, England and South Africa
ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 schedule
19 Feb – Pakistan v New Zealand, National Stadium, Karachi
20 Feb – Bangladesh v India, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
21 Feb – Afghanistan v South Africa, National Stadium, Karachi
22 Feb – Australia v England, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
23 Feb – Pakistan v India, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
24 Feb – Bangladesh v New Zealand, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
25 Feb – Australia v South Africa, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
26 Feb – Afghanistan v England, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
27 Feb – Pakistan v Bangladesh, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
28 Feb – Afghanistan v Australia, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
1 Mar – South Africa v England, National Stadium, Karachi
2 Mar – New Zealand v India, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
4 Mar – Semi-final 1, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai*
5 Mar – Semi-final 2, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
All matches start at 2:30 PM Indian Standard Time
Semi-final 1 will involve India if they qualify
Semi-final 2 will involve Pakistan if they qualify
If India qualify for the final it will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.
The last time the Champions Trophy rolled around was in 2017, and it witnessed a spirited display by Mohammed Amir that played a pivotal role in Pakistan’s win over India, that had Virat Kohli at the helm. In their innings, Pakistan racked up a whopping 338 runs, largely due to a staggering hundred by Fakhar Zaman. Later, Mohammed Amir took center stage, outplaying the Indian batsmen and restricting them to a paltry 158, ensuring a memorable victory for Pakistan.
Pakistan joins the competition riding high on waves of positivity. After grappling with internal team chaos, they’ve found fresh leadership in the form of Mohammed Rizwan. Under his guidance, they’ve toasted success in two foreign series in Australia and South Africa in the single-day matches.
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