Four days after confirming that India and Pakistan will not play in each others’ grounds until 2027, at least, the International Cricket Council (ICC) officially declared the schedule for the Champions Trophy. The big-ticket clash between India and Pakistan will take place on 23 February (Sunday) in Dubai.
Besides Pakistan, the other two teams in India’s group are Bangladesh and New Zealand. India will play Bangladesh on 20 February, and New Zealand on 2 March. These two games will also be held in Dubai.
Defending champions and hosts Pakistan will kick the tournament off on 19 February, against New Zealand in Karachi. Pakistan’s final group game, against Bangladesh, will be played in Rawalpindi on 27 February.
The two semi-final matches will take place on 4 March and 5 March. The final, on 9 March, does have a reserve day.
The first semi-final will be played in the UAE, irrespective of India’s presence.
The final has been slotted for Lahore, with the provision of holding it in the UAE if India get that far.
The other group, Group B, features Afghanistan, Australia, England and South Africa. The matches for both groups – apart from the ones involving India – will be played in Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi.
The decision to keep India’s matches in the UAE came after Mohsin Naqvi, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, met with senior UAE minister and Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) head Sheikh Nahyan Al Mubarak in Pakistan.
“The PCB has picked the UAE as a neutral venue for the Champions Trophy,” PCB spokesperson Amir Mir had said after the meeting.
The hybrid model had been finalised after, as was reported by TimesofIndia.com, India and Pakistan both refused to visit the other. As a result, a solution was found with their matches at ICC events hosted by the other, till 2027, will be held at a neutral venue. Subsequently, the knockout games will also be held at neutral venues.
The agreement gets going with the Champions Trophy, and will also apply to the 2025 women’s ODI World Cup in India, the 2026 men’s T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. It will also apply to the 2028 Women’s T20 World Cup, to be held in Pakistan.
Champions Trophy 2025 groups:
Group A – Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and New Zealand
Group B – Afghanistan, Australia, England and South Africa
Champions Trophy Schedule:
19 February, Pakistan v New Zealand, Karachi, Pakistan
20 February, Bangladesh v India, Dubai
21 February, Afghanistan v South Africa, Karachi, Pakistan
22 February, Australia v England, Lahore, Pakistan
23 February, Pakistan v India, Dubai
24 February, Bangladesh v New Zealand, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
25 February, Australia v South Africa, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
26 February, Afghanistan v England, Lahore, Pakistan
27 February, Pakistan v Bangladesh, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
28 February, Afghanistan v Australia, Lahore, Pakistan
1 March, South Africa v England, Karachi, Pakistan
2 March, New Zealand v India, Dubai
4 March, Semi-final 1, Dubai
5 March, Semi-final 2, Lahore, Pakistan
9 March, Final, Lahore (unless India qualify, when it will be played in Dubai)
10 March, Reserve day
