ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Full Schedule, Groupings, Time, Venue, and More

ICC Champions Trophy 2025

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is one of the most eagerly awaited cricket tournaments in the international calendar. Set to take place from February 19 to March 9, 2025, the tournament will feature the world’s top eight One Day International (ODI) teams, battling it out for the prestigious title. This marks the return of the Champions Trophy, which had been discontinued after 2017, and its revival is generating excitement among cricket fans worldwide.

This article covers everything you need to know about the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, including the schedule, groupings, venues, and the latest updates surrounding the event.

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Tournament Overview: ICC Champions Trophy 2025

The Champions Trophy 2025 will be the ninth edition of the prestigious tournament, and it will be hosted by Pakistan from February 19 to March 9, 2025. The event will mark the first time since 2009 that Pakistan will host an ICC international event solely on its soil, following the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team that had severely disrupted international cricket in the country.https://www.icc-cricket.com/

Participating Teams:

• India
• Pakistan (Host)
• Australia
• New Zealand
• Bangladesh
• South Africa
• Afghanistan
• England

These eight teams will compete in a round-robin group stage, followed by the knockout rounds, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals. The final will be held on March 9, 2025, at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Groupings

The teams will be divided into two groups of four, with each team playing a round-robin format in the group stage. Here’s how the groups for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy are likely to shape up:

Group A:

• India
• Pakistan
• New Zealand
• Bangladesh

Group B:

• Afghanistan
• Australia
• England
• South Africa

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Full Schedule for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025

The schedule for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is packed with exciting matches. The tournament will run from February 19 to March 9, 2025, and is set to take place across three iconic cricket cities in Pakistan: Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi. Here’s a tentative schedule of the tournament:

The India vs Pakistan match, scheduled for March 1, 2025, is expected to be one of the most highly anticipated clashes of the tournament, given the intense rivalry between the two nations.

Venues for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy will be played in three iconic stadiums in Pakistan:

• National Stadium, Karachi (Capacity: 34,238)
• Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore (Capacity: 27,000)
• Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi (Capacity: 15,000)

Each venue is known for its rich cricketing history and modern facilities, ensuring fans will have a thrilling experience watching the matches.

India’s Participation: Security and Venue Concerns

One of the key issues surrounding the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is the participation of India. Due to ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has expressed concerns about the security situation in Pakistan.

As a result, the BCCI has sent an official letter to both the ICC and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) requesting that India’s matches be relocated to neutral venues, like Dubai or Sri Lanka. The ICC is yet to make a final decision on the matter.

Despite these concerns, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has stated that it is fully committed to ensuring the safety of all participating teams and has proposed allowing the Indian team to return home after each match for security reasons.

Key Highlights and Features of ICC Champions Trophy 2025

The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy will offer several unique features:

1. First Major ICC Event in Pakistan Since 2009: This tournament will be the first major international cricket event hosted solely by Pakistan since the 2009 terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team.
2. Debut of Afghanistan: Afghanistan will be making its first appearance in the ICC Champions Trophy, reflecting the growth of cricket in non-traditional cricket nations.
3. Hybrid Model Consideration: Discussions are ongoing about adopting a hybrid model where India’s matches might be held in neutral venues like Dubai, in light of security concerns.
4. High-Tech Venues: The stadiums in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi have been upgraded with state-of-the-art facilities to provide an enhanced viewing experience for fans.
5. Key Matches: Besides the India vs Pakistan match, other highly anticipated fixtures include Australia vs South Africa and England vs New Zealand, ensuring there will be no shortage of thrilling encounters.

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Conclusion

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 promises to be an exciting tournament, bringing together the best cricketing nations in a battle for supremacy. As the tournament approaches, all eyes will be on the ICC to see how they handle the concerns regarding India’s participation and whether the matches will remain in Pakistan or be shifted to neutral venues like Dubai.

The stakes are high, and with a packed schedule, new challengers like Afghanistan, and the iconic India vs Pakistan clash, ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is poised to be a tournament to remember. Stay tuned for more updates as the event draws nearer!