With each day ticking off, we are heading towards more clarity about the upcoming Champions Trophy, which is scheduled to take place in Pakistan. However, there are still many uncertainties surrounding the confirmation of the tournament’s venue. This prestigious tournament, last held in 2017 in England, was discontinued but is now making a comeback, as people still crave that “mini World Cup” feeling. This is why it was reinstated for two editions, in 2025 and 2029. But the 2025 Champions Trophy is feeling the heat, as there are chances that India may not travel to Pakistan. However, the news coming from neighbouring countries suggests they are well-prepared and ready to tackle any scenario. For now, nothing is fully confirmed, but what we have are tentative all over, from the tentative schedule to the tentative venues. See what we know so far about the Champions Trophy 2025.
Champions Trophy 2025 schedule
| Date | Match | Venue |
| 19 February 2025 | Pakistan vs New Zealand | National Stadium, Karachi |
| 20 February 2025 | Bangladesh vs India | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| 23 February 2025 | India vs New Zealand | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| 24 February 2025 | Pakistan vs Bangladesh | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi |
| 27 February 2025 | New Zealand vs Bangladesh | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| 1 March 2025 | Pakistan vs India | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| 21 February 2025 | Afghanistan vs South Africa | National Stadium, Karachi |
| 22 February 2025 | Australia vs England | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| 25 February 2025 | South Africa vs England | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| 26 February 2025 | Australia vs Afghanistan | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi |
| 28 February 2025 | South Africa vs Australia | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi |
| 2 March 2025 | England vs Afghanistan | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi |
| 5 March 2025 | Semi-final 1 | National Stadium, Karachi |
| 6 March 2025 | Semi-final 2 | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi |
| 9 March 2025 | Final | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
To date, the details available for the schedule state that the tournament will start on 19 February and run until 9 March, with a total of 16 games. The top eight teams, including hosts Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, New Zealand, and South Africa, will take part. These eight teams will be divided into two groups of four, followed by the semi-finals and the final.
How many teams are participating in Champions Trophy 2025?
| Team |
| India |
| Pakistan (Host) |
| Bangladesh |
| New Zealand |
| Afghanistan |
| South Africa |
| Australia |
| England |
Champions Trophy Venues
| City | Matches | Stadium | Capacity |
| Karachi | 3 | National Stadium, Karachi | 34,238 |
| Lahore | 7 | Gaddafi Stadium | 27,000 |
| Rawalpindi | 5 | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium | 15,000 |
If we look at the venues for this Champions Trophy, there is also a lot of confusion. The PCB, which has already released the fixtures, wants to host the entire tournament in Pakistan and has decided on three venues: Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi. However, due to political unrest and the possibility of no participation from India, who are advocating for a hybrid model, Pakistan’s dream of hosting the event in full could be put on hold, and we may see some matches shifted outside Pakistan.
Will India play in Champions Trophy 2025?
For now, there is a no from the BCCI, which has already conveyed to the ICC and PCB that India will not travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025. According to ESPNcricinfo, the BCCI informed the ICC that it had been advised by the Indian government not to send the team to Pakistan. The chances are that this decision will remain, and a hybrid model could be implemented as a solution to the problem, where India’s matches may be shifted outside Pakistan.
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