The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled the schedule for the 2025 Champions Trophy.
The tournament, set to feature eight teams, will be co-hosted by Pakistan and the neutral venue of Dubai from 19 February to 9 March.
In Group A, defending champions Pakistan and rivals India are joined by New Zealand and Bangladesh. Group B consists of England, Australia, South Africa, and Afghanistan.
The competition will kick off on 19 February with Pakistan taking on New Zealand in Karachi, while India will begin their campaign a day later against Bangladesh in Dubai.
Due to ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan, the Pakistan Cricket Board has designated Dubai as the neutral venue for all of India’s matches.
This means India’s three group-stage games, along with the first semi-final on 4 March, will take place in the United Arab Emirates.
The final is scheduled to be held in Lahore on 9 March, but if India qualifies, the match will be moved to Dubai.
England’s Champions Trophy journey begins against Australia in Lahore on 22 February, followed by clashes with Afghanistan on 26 February and South Africa on 1 March.
This will mark the first global cricket event hosted in Pakistan since 1996, making it a significant occasion for the nation. Pakistan is also set to host the Women’s T20 World Cup in 2028 under similar neutral venue arrangements.
The agreement between the ICC, the Pakistan Cricket Board, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India ensures that Pakistan will also play its matches at neutral venues for any ICC events hosted by India until 2027.
Notably, India and Pakistan have not faced each other outside major ICC events since 2013, and India has not played on Pakistani soil since 2008.
Teams and Groups:
- Group A: Pakistan, India, New Zealand, Bangladesh
- Group B: England, Australia, South Africa, Afghanistan
