The Champions Trophy will be the first ICC to be held in Pakistan since the 1996 ODI World Cup.
With the T20 World Cup over, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is gearing up for the next ICC event, the Champions Trophy 2025. The mega-event is confirmed to be held from February 19 to March 9, as the ICC confirmed PCB’s proposed schedule two weeks ago.
Champions Trophy 2025: PCB wants March 1, BCCI is yet to approve
Naturally, the biggest match of the tournament would be India vs Pakistan. PCB had already confirmed that the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore would host all of Team India’s matches if they were to travel to their neighboring nation. Now, an ICC senior ICC Board member has confirmed that the PCB wishes to schedule the match for March 1.
According to PCB’s proposed schedule for the Champions Trophy 2025, 15 matches are to be played across 20 days. Lahore will host the most (7), including the final on March 9. There will also be a reserve day for the final to ensure we have a result.
“The PCB has submitted the draft of the 15-match ICC Champions Trophy. Seven games in Lahore, three in Karachi, and five in Rawalpindi. The opening match will be held in Karachi, with the semifinals in Karachi and Rawalpindi, and the final in Lahore. All India matches, including the semifinal if the team qualifies, will be in Lahore,” the ICC source told PTI.
Of course, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to approve. Of the seven nations that will travel to Pakistan, Rohit Sharma’s Team India is the only one who’ll deny coming. All the others have already confirmed their presence for the Champions Trophy 2025.
“All board chiefs of the ICC Champions Trophy participating countries (minus BCCI) have assured their complete support to Naqvi, but BCCI will consult its government and update the ICC,” the source added.
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India draw Pakistan, Bangladesh and New Zealand in Group A
The teams that finished in the Top 8 of the ODI World Cup 2023 have already qualified for the Champions Trophy, which means that two former winners of the event, Sri Lanka and the West Indies, will not travel to Pakistan. As has been the case for a while in ICC events, India has been drawn in the same group as Pakistan. According to the ICC source, Bangladesh and New Zealand are the other two teams that will fight for the title in Group A. Australia, England, South Africa, and Afghanistan will face off for a semifinal spot in Group B.
Champions Trophy 2025: Groups
| Group | Teams |
|---|---|
| A | Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and New Zealand |
| B | Australia, England, South Africa, and Afghanistan |
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