A much-awaited schedule of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is out now. The ICC (International Cricket Council) announced the Champions Trophy 2025 schedule on Tuesday (December 24) after all the tensions between the ICC, BCCI, and the PCB over the hybrid model have been sorted.
Pakistan, being a host, kickstarts the tournament against New Zealand on February 19 in Karachi. As expected, Team India will play all their games in Dubai (as a neutral venue) including the semifinal and the final (if reached). The ICC has also made a special arrangement regarding the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final. In this article, we will talk about all the developments in detail. We will also see the Champions Trophy 2025 schedule. So let’s dive into it quickly.
ICC announced Champions Trophy 2025 schedule
The ICC, on Tuesday (December 24), has announced the Champions Trophy 2025 schedule after all the drama over the venues of the tournament. As we know the Indian government hasn’t allowed the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) to send the Indian cricket team to Pakistan since 2008. Due to cross-border terrorism and political tensions between the two countries, the Indian government does not even allow Team India to play in bilateral series.
The ICC CT 2025 hosting rights were with PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board). Now, as usual, the BCCI told the ICC that the country’s government won’t allow them to send their team to Pakistan. In the end, the BCCI, ICC, and the PCB come to the same page and a hybrid model is now a solution to this matter.
The PCB has asked for the same model for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup, which will be hosted by India and Sri Lanka. They have also put a few more points, out of which, some were approved and some were neglected by the ICC. Whatever, the ICC CT 2025 will now happen in a hybrid model with PCB holding the hosting rights.
PAK-NZ to kick off Champions Trophy 2025
The tournament will begin on February 19, with the host Pakistan and New Zealand locking horns in the opener in Karachi.
Dubai will host India games
The PCB has chosen UAE (United Arab Emirates) as a venue to host India games. Particularly, Dubai will host Team India matches including the semifinal and a final. If Team India reaches the final, then the match will happen in Dubai. In case India fails to make it to the final, the match will happen in Lahore. The 1st semifinal will happen in Dubai, no matter if India reaches the top 4 or not. If India reaches the semifinal, they will play in Dubai.
Venues for the Champions Trophy 2025
A total of 4 cities (Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Dubai) will host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 matches across two countries (Pakistan and UAE). Dubai and Lahore will host the 1st and 2nd semifinals on March 04 and 05 respectively. Dubai/Lahore will host the final depending on where India finishes.
Reserve Days for the semifinals and final
The ICC has also decided to reserve days for both the semifinals and the final in case of bad weather, bad light, or any other unforeseen circumstances to complete the game. March 04 and 05 are the original dates for the 1st and 2nd semifinals respectively. March 05 is the reserve day for the 1st semifinal.
Same as the 1st semifinal, the 2nd semifinal will have a reserve day (March 06). The date for the final is March 09. March 10 will be a reserve day for the final.
Groups in the Champions Trophy 2025
Group A: India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand
Group B: South Africa, England, Australia, and Afghanistan
ICC Champions Trophy 2025 schedule:-
| MATCH | DATE | VENUE |
| Pakistan v New Zealand | February 19 | Karachi |
| Bangladesh v India | February 20 | Dubai |
| Afghanistan v South Africa | February 21 | Karachi |
| Australia v England | February 22 | Lahore |
| Pakistan v India | February 23 | Dubai |
| Bangladesh v New Zealand | February 24 | Rawalpindi |
| Australia v South Africa | February 25 | Rawalpindi |
| Afghanistan v England | February 26 | Lahore |
| Pakistan v Bangladesh | February 27 | Rawalpindi |
| Afghanistan v Australia | February 28 | Lahore |
| South Africa v England | March 01 | Karachi |
| New Zealand v India | March 02 | Dubai |
| Semifinal 1 | March 04 March 05 (Reserve Day)* | Dubai |
| Semifinal 2 | March 05 March 06 (Reserve Day)* | Lahore |
| Final | March 09 March 10 (Reserve Day)* | Lahore/Dubai (if India reaches the final) |
All the matches in the CT 2025 will be Day-Night games.
Conclusion
So this is the Champions Trophy 2025 schedule. The fans have been waiting for it for a while now. They are excited to see how things unfold in the tournament. The Champions Trophy is coming back after 7 years. Last time, the tournament happened in 2017, hosted by England and Wales. Pakistan won that tournament by beating the arch-rivals India in the final by 180 runs. Now, we will again see these two teams going against each other in Dubai on February 23.
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FAQs:-
(1) What is the head-to-head between India and Pakistan in the Champions Trophy?
In 5 games in the Champions Trophy, Pakistan has won 3 while India has managed to win 2 games.
(2) Who was the Man of the Match in the CT 2017 Final?
Fakhar Zaman was the Man of the Match in the CT 2017 Final against India. He played an outstanding 114 innings in the final.
(3) How many CT titles have India and Pakistan won?
India has won two CT titles (in 2002, when IND-SL became co-winners, and in 2013), while Pakistan has won the CT title once (in 2017).
