Champions Trophy in Pakistan | Source: X.com
The tentative schedule for the highly anticipated Champions Trophy 2025, hosted by Pakistan, has been unveiled. The tournament will be held in February and March of next year.
The marquee clash of the 2025 edition is undoubtedly the India vs Pakistan encounter, scheduled for March 1st at the iconic Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Rawalpindi and Karachi join Lahore as host cities, with each venue allocated multiple matches throughout the tournament. The tournament opener will see the reigning champions, Pakistan, take on New Zealand on February 19th, according to The Telegraph.
The final group stage match will be played between England and South Africa in Rawalpindi on March 2nd. Interestingly, Lahore will not only host the final but also all of India’s matches.
Format of ICC Champions Trophy 2025
The format involves eight teams divided into two groups of four. Group A features Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and New Zealand, while Group B comprises Afghanistan, Australia, England, and South Africa.
Notably, this is the first time since 1996 when Pakistan is hosting any major ICC event. However, a question mark hangs over India’s participation. Their potential visit to Pakistan would be their first since 2008.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has clarified that decisions regarding tours to Pakistan are subject to government approval. Notably, all of India’s matches in the recently concluded Asia Cup, held in Pakistan, were shifted to Sri Lanka.
