After many rounds of speculation about the ICC Champions Trophy, things finally became clear on December 24, when the ICC announced the Champions Trophy schedule. The news quickly became the talk of the town, and understandably so, given the discussions surrounding CT 2025 over the past few months.
It turned out to be a win-win situation for both the BCCI and PCB, but mostly for the former, as it was India’s reluctance to play in Pakistan that became a major point of discussion. This led to the ICC delaying the schedule announcement. We saw how the Champions Trophy tour was canceled, and many discussions followed after India officially announced they would not play in Pakistan due to security concerns. But, as they say, all’s well that ends well. So, let’s take a look at all the Champions Trophy marquee details which is all set to happen in hybrid model.
Champions Trophy 2025 Groups
| Group A | Group B |
| Pakistan | South Africa |
| India | Australia |
| New Zealand | Afghanistan |
| Bangladesh | England |
ICC Champions Trophy Schedule
Take a look at the detailed ICC Champions Trophy 2025 schedule here
How many games will Pakistan host in the Champions Trophy 2025?
A total of 11 matches will be played, with Karachi and Rawalpindi each hosting 3 games, and Lahore hosting 5 games in total, including the final—only if India does not qualify for the final.
Champions Trophy 2025 Date & Time
Since all games will be day-night fixtures, they will start at 2:30 IST. The matches will begin on February 19 and run until March 9.
Champions Trophy 2025 Format
Although there was initial discussion, or rather rumors, suggesting that we might see a T20 format instead of the usual 50-over format, in the end, it will follow the traditional 50-over format. The tournament will feature a round-robin format in the group stage, leading to knockout rounds. The top teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, with the final match scheduled for March 9, 2025, in Lahore. However, if India qualifies, the final will be held in Dubai.
India’s Schedule for Champions Trophy 2025
| Date | Match | Venue |
| 20 February | Bangladesh vs India | Dubai |
| 23 February | Pakistan vs India | Dubai |
| 2 March | New Zealand vs India | Dubai |
| 4 March | Semi-final 1 (if India qualifies) | Dubai |
| 9 March | Final (if India qualifies) | Lahore (unless India qualifies, then Dubai) |
Champions Trophy 2025 Venues
| City | Stadium | Capacity | Matches |
| Karachi | National Stadium | 34,238 | 3 |
| Lahore | Gaddafi Stadium | 27,000 | 5 (including final) |
| Rawalpindi | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium | 15,000 | 3 |
Looking at the venues where the majority of matches will take place, there are three venues for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi. However, since it’s a hybrid model, India will play all its matches in the UAE.
