ICC Reveals Champions Trophy 2025 Schedule

The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the fixtures for the Champions Trophy on Tuesday, confirming that India and Pakistan are scheduled to play in Dubai on February 23. This upcoming match follows Pakistan’s victory over India by 180 runs at The Oval in the 2017 Champions Trophy final. The eight-team tournament is set to take place from February 19 to March 9, with matches hosted in Pakistan and at the neutral venue of Dubai. Defending champions Pakistan and India have been placed in Group A, alongside New Zealand and Bangladesh. Group B comprises England, Australia, South Africa, and Afghanistan. The opening match of the tournament will feature Pakistan against New Zealand in Karachi on February 19. India’s first game will be against Bangladesh in Dubai on February 20. Dubai was selected by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as a neutral venue due to India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan, citing persistent political tensions between the two nations. Consequently, all three of India’s group stage matches, along with the first semi-final scheduled for March 4, will be held in the United Arab Emirates. The final, initially slated for Lahore on March 9, will also be relocated to Dubai should India advance to the championship match. England’s Champions Trophy campaign will commence on February 22 against Australia in Lahore. They are then scheduled to play Afghanistan on February 26 and South Africa on March 1. This 50-over Champions Trophy marks Pakistan’s first time hosting a global cricket event since 1996. Pakistan is also slated to host the women’s T20 World Cup in 2028, an event for which neutral venue arrangements will also be implemented. Furthermore, under an agreement between the Board of Control for Cricket, the PCB, and the ICC, Pakistan will participate at a neutral venue in any event hosted by India until 2027. India and Pakistan have not competed against each other in men’s cricket outside of major tournaments since 2013, and India has not played a match in Pakistan since 2008. Group A: Pakistan, India, New Zealand, Bangladesh Group B: South Africa, Australia, Afghanistan, England The complete schedule of matches is as follows, with both semi-finals and the final having designated reserve days: **February** 19: Pakistan v New Zealand, Karachi 20: Bangladesh v India, Dubai 21: Afghanistan v South Africa, Karachi 22: Australia v England, Lahore, Pakistan 23: Pakistan v India, Dubai 24: Bangladesh v New Zealand, Rawalpindi 25: Australia v South Africa, Rawalpindi 26: Afghanistan v England, Lahore 27: Pakistan v Bangladesh, Rawalpindi 28: Afghanistan v Australia, Lahore **March** 1: South Africa v England, Karachi 2: New Zealand v India, Dubai 4: Semi-final 1, Dubai 5: Semi-final 2, Lahore 9: Final, Lahore (unless India qualify, then it will be played in Dubai)