The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reportedly shared a preliminary schedule for the much-awaited ICC Champions Trophy 2025 with all its stakeholders, including broadcasters and all participating teams.
The tournament is scheduled to be held in Pakistan next year as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has the hosting rights. However, recent media reports indicate that the tournament could be a two-country affair as India is highly unlikely to visit Pakistan for the ICC competition. India has not visited Pakistan since 2008 due to political tension between the two countries.
Last year, the BCCI also decided not to send the team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup. As a result, the Asian Cricket Council came up with a hybrid model and India played all their matches in Sri Lanka, including the final. And reports suggest that a similar arrangement could be implemented for next year’s Champions Trophy as well.
India to play Champions Trophy matches in Lahore:
While the BCCI is yet to take a final decision on sending the Indian team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, the ICC seems confident that the Men in Blue will cross the borders next year. Moreover, the ICC has approved a budget of $65 million, including the costs of staging matches outside Pakistan.
According to a report by Cricbuzz, the apex body of the game has shared the preliminary schedule of the Champions Trophy with all the teams, and all of India’s matches will be held in Lahore. This clearly means that the ICC is not yet planning to make the Champions Trophy a dual-country event.
As for the Champions Trophy squad schedule, India is in Group A along with Pakistan, Bangladesh and New Zealand. On the other hand, Australia, England, Afghanistan and South Africa are in Group B.
New Zealand and Pakistan will lock horns in the opening match of the tournament on February 19, while India will begin their campaign against Bangladesh on February 20. The high-voltage clash between India and Pakistan is scheduled for March 1. India’s other group match is against New Zealand on February 23.
The two semi-finals are scheduled to be held in Karachi on March 5 and Pindi on March 6, while the final will take place in Lahore on March 9.
ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Preliminary Schedule:
- Wednesday 19th February Match 1 NZ v PAK
- Thursday February 20th Match 2 BAN v IND
- Friday 21st February Match 3 AFG v SA
- Saturday, February Match 4 AUS v ENG
- Sunday 23rd February Match 5 NZ v IND
- Monday 24th February Match 6 PAK v BAN
- Tuesday 25th February Match 7 AFG v ENG
- Wednesday 26th February Match 8 AUS v SA
- Thursday 27th February Match 9 BAN v NZ
- Friday 28th February Match 10 AFG v AUS
- Saturday 1st March Match 11 PAK v IND
- Sunday 2nd March Match 12 SA v ENG
- Wednesday 5th March Semi-final 1 – A1 v B2
- Thursday, March 6 Semifinal 2 – B1 v A2
- Sunday, March 9, 2025 Final
- Monday, March 10, 2025 Reserve Day