The International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy is making a grand return after an eight-year hiatus, promising thrilling cricket action from February 19 to March 9, 2025. This elite one-day international (ODI) tournament, last won by Pakistan, will see the world’s top eight men’s teams compete in a 19-day spectacle. Notably, this is Pakistan’s first time hosting an ICC event since the 1996 World Cup.
Participating Teams and Groups
The tournament features two groups:
- Group A: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, New Zealand
- Group B: Afghanistan, Australia, England, South Africa
Tournament Format
The Champions Trophy will follow a round-robin format in the group stage. Each team will play against every other team in their group. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals. Points will be awarded as follows:
- Win: 2 points
- No result/Tie: 1 point
- Loss: 0 points
In case of tied points, the net run rate will determine the semifinalists.
Venues
The tournament will be hosted across multiple venues:
- Pakistan: National Stadium (Karachi), Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium (Rawalpindi), Gaddafi Stadium (Lahore)
- UAE: Dubai International Cricket Stadium (Dubai) for all of India’s fixtures due to political reasons.
If India qualifies for the knockouts, the first semifinal will be held in Dubai. Should India reach the final, the match will be moved from Lahore to Dubai.
Full Match Schedule
| Date | Match | Time (Local) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 19, Wed | Pakistan vs New Zealand | 2pm | National Stadium, Karachi, Pakistan |
| February 20, Thu | Bangladesh vs India | 1pm | Dubai International Cricket Stadium, UAE |
| February 21, Fri | Afghanistan vs South Africa | 2pm | National Stadium, Karachi, Pakistan |
| February 22, Sat | Australia vs England | 2pm | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, Pakistan |
| February 23, Sun | Pakistan vs India | 1pm | Dubai International Cricket Stadium, UAE |
| February 24, Mon | Bangladesh vs New Zealand | 2pm | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Pakistan |
| February 25, Tue | Australia vs South Africa | 2pm | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Pakistan |
| February 26, Wed | Afghanistan vs England | 2pm | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, Pakistan |
| February 27, Thu | Pakistan vs Bangladesh | 2pm | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Pakistan |
| February 28, Fri | Afghanistan vs Australia | 2pm | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, Pakistan |
| March 1, Sat | England vs South Africa | 2pm | National Stadium, Karachi, Pakistan |
| March 2, Sun | New Zealand vs India | 1pm | Dubai International Cricket Stadium, UAE |
| March 4, Tue | First semifinal | 1pm | Dubai International Cricket Stadium, UAE |
| March 5, Wed | Second semifinal | 2pm | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, Pakistan |
| March 9, Sun | Final | 09:00 GMT | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, Pakistan or Dubai International Cricket Stadium, UAE (if India qualifies) |