Champions Trophy 2025 likely schedule unveiled

The proposed schedule for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy has been revealed, with Pakistan set to host the prestigious international event.

The tournament is scheduled to begin on February 19, with the opening match between Pakistan and New Zealand at Karachi’s National Stadium.

One of the biggest highlights of the event will be the highly anticipated Pakistan-India clash, which is set for February 23 at a neutral venue, drawing immense global attention due to the historic rivalry between the two teams.

Key highlights of the proposed schedule include:

• Opening match: Pakistan vs New Zealand – February 19, Karachi
• Pakistan vs India: February 23, neutral venue
• Pakistan vs Bangladesh: February 27, Rawalpindi
• Australia vs England: February 22, Lahore
• Afghanistan vs England: February 26, Lahore
• Afghanistan vs Australia: February 28, Lahore (Gaddafi Stadium)

The knockout stages will feature one semi-final in Lahore, with the other at a neutral venue. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Lahore, although if India qualifies, the final may be moved to a neutral location to address diplomatic considerations.

The ICC has introduced a neutral venue policy for India-Pakistan encounters for the 2024-2027 rights cycle. This policy will extend to the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, the Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 in India, the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka, and the Women’s T20 World Cup 2028, which Pakistan will host.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently shared updates on the Champions Trophy during a Governing Board meeting chaired by Mohsin Naqvi. According to sources, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi confirmed that agreements with the ICC and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have been finalised, with only documentation remaining. The final Champions Trophy schedule is expected to be released in the coming days.