Champions Trophy 2025 – Teams, Venues & Full Schedule.
The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is set to start on February 19, with hosts Pakistan facing New Zealand in Karachi. The highly anticipated tournament will culminate with the final on March 9, bringing back the prestigious event after an eight-year hiatus. The last edition was held in 2017 England and Wales, where Pakistan emerged victorious over India in a thrilling final.
The tournament has faced significant scheduling changes over the years. Initially held every two years since its inception in 1998, the competition shifted to a four-year cycle after 2009. The 2021 edition, set initially to be hosted by India, was replaced by the T20 World Cup, which was eventually held in the UAE.
Pakistan will host the 2025 edition, but due to India’s refusal to travel, the tournament will follow a hybrid model, with India’s matches taking place in Dubai. The Pakistan leg will be staged across Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi, with significant renovations underway at the National Stadium in Karachi and the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Before the Champions Trophy kicks off, the upgrades will be tested during a tri-series featuring Pakistan, New Zealand, and South Africa.
The opening ceremony, which celebrates the start of the tournament, is scheduled for February 16 in Lahore. However, logistical challenges mean there will be no traditional captains’ meeting or press conference, ending speculation over India captain Rohit Sharma’s travel plans to Pakistan.
Political tensions between India and Pakistan have influenced the scheduling, with India playing all matches at a neutral venue. India last travelled to Pakistan for an ICC event during the 2008 Asia Cup. In contrast, Pakistan has played several ICC tournaments in India, including the 2023 ODI World Cup. A pre-arranged agreement between the BCCI, PCB, and ICC ensures that all Pakistan matches in ICC tournaments hosted by India until 2027 will also be played at neutral venues.
This will be Pakistan’s first ICC tournament since the 1996 ODI World Cup, co-hosted alongside India and Sri Lanka. Pakistan was initially slated to host the 2008 Champions Trophy, but security concerns led to the tournament being moved to South Africa in 2009.
One of the most awaited matches of the tournament will be the clash between India and Pakistan on February 23 in Dubai. While India dominates the head-to-head record in World Cups, Pakistan has a 3-2 advantage over India in the Champions Trophy.
Eight teams will participate, similar to the 2017 edition. However, Afghanistan has qualified in place of Sri Lanka this time. The teams have been divided into two groups: Group A features India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, while Group B includes South Africa, Australia, Afghanistan, and England.
As the host nation, Pakistan secured automatic qualification, while the remaining seven teams earned their spots based on the 2023 ODI World Cup standings. Sri Lanka and the Netherlands, who finished ninth and tenth, respectively, failed to qualify.
West Indies will also be absent from the tournament, as the team did not qualify for the 2023 ODI World Cup. Similarly, Full Member nations Zimbabwe and Ireland missed out due to their lower standings.
The tournament format will see each team play the others in their group once, with the top two teams advancing to the semi-finals. The semi-finals will see A1 face B2 and B1 take on A2. If India qualifies for the semi-finals, the match will be held in Dubai on March 4, regardless of their group-stage position. If Pakistan reaches the semi-finals, their match will be played in Lahore on March 5.
The final is scheduled to be held in Lahore on March 9. However, if India makes it to the final, the match will be moved to Dubai in line with the hybrid hosting model.
In the event of a tie, all matches will be decided by a Super Over. If the Super Over also ends in a tie, subsequent Super Overs will be played until a winner is determined.
For the knockout stages, reserve days have been allocated for both semi-finals and the final. However, every effort will be made to complete matches on the scheduled dates. In case of rain interruptions, the team batting second must face at least 25 overs in the knockout matches—compared to 20 in the group stage—for the result to be determined via the DLS method. If a semi-final ends without an upshot, the team that completed higher in the group stage will advance to the final. If the final is washed out, both finalists will share the trophy.
There has been one instance of joint winners in Champions Trophy history. In 2002, India and Sri Lanka shared the trophy after rain disrupted the final twice, even on the reserve day.
Australia enters the tournament as the reigning ODI world champions. Still, it will be without key players, including captain Pat Cummins, fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, all of whom have been ruled out due to injuries. Additionally, Marcus Stoinis has retired. The team has until February 12 to finalize replacement players.
Due to injuries, South Africa will also be without Anrich Nortje and Gerald Coetzee. At the same time, Afghanistan welcomes the return of a fit-again Ibrahim Zadran and their mystery spinner AM Ghazanfar.
India will rely on veteran players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to rediscover form after a lean run in Test cricket. Meanwhile, Pakistan recalled Fakhar Zaman, the Player of the Match, in the 2017 final, and England brought back Joe Root. Bangladesh, on the other hand, has omitted Shakib Al Hasan and Litton Das from the squad.
New Zealand will enter its first ICC tournament under Mitchell Santner’s leadership, adding another layer of intrigue to the competition.
The Champions Trophy returns after nearly a decade. The tournament promises intense battles, high-stakes encounters, and thrilling performances on the biggest stage of ODI cricket.
