India will play their Champions Trophy 2025 group-stage matches in the UAE, with the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan encounter scheduled for February 23, 2025.
This decision comes after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) finalized arrangements with the UAE, designating it as the neutral venue for the tournament.
India’s group also includes Bangladesh and New Zealand. India’s first match will be against Bangladesh on February 20, followed by a clash with New Zealand on March 2. All of India’s group-stage matches are likely to be held in Dubai.
Pakistan, the defending champions, will open the tournament on February 19, 2025, with a match against New Zealand in Karachi. Pakistan’s final group match will take place in Rawalpindi on February 27, against Bangladesh.
The second group in the tournament comprises Afghanistan, Australia, England, and South Africa, with matches scheduled across Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi.
The semi-finals will be held on March 4 and 5, 2025, with the first semi-final set to take place in the UAE if India qualifies. If India does not progress to the semi-finals, the game will be held in Pakistan. The final is set for March 9, 2025, in Lahore, though it will be moved to the UAE if India reaches the final.
This hybrid model for the Champions Trophy, which has received approval from all parties involved, will also be applied to future ICC events. In exchange, Pakistan’s matches at ICC events hosted by India until 2027 will also be held at neutral venues. This agreement also applies to the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup in India, the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, and the 2028 Women’s T20 World Cup in Pakistan.
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