Four days after confirming that India and Pakistan will not play in each other’s 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 off the tournament against New Zealand in Karachi on 19 February. Pakistan’s final group game, against Bangladesh, will be played in Rawalpindi on 27 February.
The two semi-final matches will be on 4 and 5 March. The final, on 9 March, has 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, includes Afghanistan, Australia, England, and South Africa. All matches in both groups—except those 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 chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), 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, which will be held at a neutral venue. Subsequently, the knockout games will also be held at neutral venues.
The agreement goes with the Champions Trophy and will apply to the 2025 women’s ODI World Cup in India, the 2026 men’s T20 World Cup, which India and Sri Lanka will co-host, and the 2028 Women’s T20 World Cup, which will 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 vs. 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 qualifies, when it will be played in Dubai)
10 March, Reserve day
