Pakistan will commence the 2025 Champions Trophy with a match against New Zealand on February 19 in Karachi, as confirmed by the ICC on Tuesday, December 24, during the announcement of the fixtures. India’s group stage games, along with one semi-final, are slated to take place in Dubai, with the highly anticipated encounter against Pakistan scheduled for February 23.
ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Full Schedule
Bangladesh is the fourth team in Group A, which also includes India, New Zealand, and the defending champions, Pakistan. Group B consists of Afghanistan, South Africa, Australia, and England. The opening match of Group B will feature Afghanistan, making their debut, against the inaugural champions, South Africa, on February 21 in Karachi. A highly anticipated match between Australia and England is scheduled for February 22 in Lahore.
Rawalpindi has been designated as the third venue in Pakistan to host matches, with two of those involving Bangladesh. The second semifinal and the final will take place in Lahore. However, should India qualify for the final, the match will be relocated to Dubai on March 9. Both semifinals and the final will include a reserve day, and all 15 matches will be day-night fixtures, commencing at 14:00 Pakistan Standard Time.
The Champions Trophy, making a return after an eight-year hiatus, encountered numerous challenges following the BCCI’s announcement of their refusal to participate in Pakistan. The prolonged uncertainty was resolved on December 19 when the ICC sanctioned neutral venues for India-Pakistan matches in global events over the next three years. Following this decision, the PCB selected the UAE as the neutral venue instead of Sri Lanka.
ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Full Schedule –
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| February 19 | Pakistan vs New Zealand | Karachi |
| February 20 | Bangladesh vs India | Dubai |
| February 21 | Afghanistan vs South Africa | Karachi |
| February 22 | Australia vs England | Lahore |
| February 23 | Pakistan vs India | Dubai |
| February 24 | Bangladesh vs New Zealand | Rawalpindi |
| February 25 | Australia vs South Africa | Rawalpindi |
| February 26 | Afghanistan vs England | Lahore |
| February 27 | Pakistan vs Bangladesh | Rawalpindi |
| February 28 | Afghanistan vs Australia | Lahore |
| March 1 | South Africa vs England | Karachi |
| March 2 | New Zealand vs India | Dubai |
| March 4 | Semi-final 1 | Dubai |
| March 5 | Semi-final 2 | Lahore |
| March 9 | Final | Lahore/Dubai* |
*Final will be held in Dubai incase India qualify
“We are pleased that an agreement has been reached based on the principles of equality and respect, showcasing the spirit of cooperation and collaboration that defines our sport,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said. “Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to the ICC members who played a constructive role in helping us achieve a mutually beneficial solution. Their efforts have been invaluable in promoting the interests of international cricket.
“Hosting the Champions Trophy is a significant milestone for Pakistan, highlighting our commitment to promoting cricket at the highest level and showcasing our capabilities as a premier event organizer. We are dedicated to ensuring that this tournament will be a memorable experience for players, officials, and fans alike.”
England announce their squad for Champions Trophy 2025; Ben Stokes ruled out due to hamstring injury
Joe Root has made his return to the England ODI squad for the first time since the 2023 World Cup, having been selected in the 15-man team for the forthcoming Champions Trophy. This same squad will also participate in the ODI series in India leading up to the global tournament.
Although Ben Stokes, the Test captain, was a potential candidate for re-inclusion in the 50-over format, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has confirmed that he was not selected due to a hamstring injury he recently sustained during the final Test match against New Zealand.
Following England’s disappointing World Cup campaign in India last year, where Root scored only 276 runs at an average of 30.66, he was not considered for the 50-over format as the team opted to provide opportunities to younger players. Nevertheless, the upcoming white-ball series in India will mark Brendon McCullum’s first assignment as the head coach across all formats, coinciding with Root’s return to the squad.
The pace attack is spearheaded by Mark Wood and Jofra Archer, complemented by Saqib Mahmood, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, and Jamie Overton. Jacob Bethell’s impressive performances in recent months have earned him a place in his first ICC tournament, while Jamie Smith has also been included, with Will Jacks missing out.
England’s squad for Champions Trophy: Jos Buttler (captain), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt, Mark Wood
