Cricket fans everywhere are in for a roller-coaster experience as the ICC Champions Trophy is back after a gap of eight years. The world's premier event will begin on February 19, 2025, and see eight teams competing to hoist the most coveted trophy.

Opening Match & Tournament Format

The fiercely contested tournament will get under way with a gripping contest involving host country Pakistan and New Zealand at National Stadium, Karachi. 15 fixtures will be played at various centers to provide an intensely contested tournament. India will host all of its matches in Dubai for reasons of logistics.

Grand Curtain-Raiser in Lahore

To mark the beginning of this enchanting relationship, there would be a curtain-raiser on 16th February 2025 at Lahore Fort. There will be speeches by cricket legends and high-ranking PCB and ICC officials.

A Glimpse at the History of ICC Champions Trophy

First ICC KnockOut in 1998, the competition was established to fund the development of cricket in non-Test-playing nations. The competition was rebranded ICC Champions Trophy in 2002 and operated on a two-year basis until 2009. It was suspended after the last tournament in 2017 before it was reinstated in November 2021. The ninth edition is hosted by Pakistan in 2025, with India being reserved for the tenth in 2029.

Past Champions of the ICC Champions Trophy

A glimpse at the previous winners of the tournament:

• 1998: South Africa

• 2000: New Zealand

• 2002: India & Sri Lanka (Joint winners due to rain)

• 2004: West Indies

• 2006 & 2009: Australia

• 2013: India

• 2017: Pakistan

Schedule, Venues & Format for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Running from February 19 to March 9, 2025, the tournament will be played across Pakistan and the UAE, marking Pakistan’s first major ICC event since the 1996 World Cup.

Match Venues

• Matches will take place in Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Lahore.

• India’s fixtures, including a possible semi-final, will be hosted at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Tournament Structure

• The 8 teams are split into 2 groups of 4.

• The top 2 teams from each group will proceed to the semi-finals.

• The group stage concludes on March 2, with the semi-finals scheduled for March 4 and 5.

• All matches are set to begin at 2 PM PST.

Final Showdown: March 9, 2025

The highly anticipated final will take place on March 9. The venue will be determined based on the finalists:

• If India qualifies for the final, it will be held in Dubai.

• Otherwise, the match will take place at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

Team Lineups & Group Division

Group A: Pakistan (Host), India, New Zealand, Bangladesh
Group B: South Africa, Australia, Afghanistan, England

Pakistan’s Group Stage Fixtures:

• February 19: Pakistan vs. New Zealand (National Stadium, Karachi)

• February 23: Pakistan vs. India (Dubai International Stadium)

• February 27: Pakistan vs. Bangladesh (Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium)

Favorites to Win ICC Champions Trophy 2025

With the tournament approaching, cricket analysts have begun identifying potential champions:

• Ricky Ponting and Ravi Shastri see India and Australia as strong title contenders.

• Sarfaraz Ahmed has listed Pakistan, India, Australia, and Afghanistan as probable semi-finalists.

• Shoaib Akhtar predicts that Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India will make it to the semi-finals.

Prize Pool for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

The ICC has increased the total prize money by 53% compared to the last edition, setting the total pool at $6.9 million:

• Winner: $2.24 million

• Runner-up: $1.12 million

• Semi-finalists: $560,000 each

• Group Stage Win Bonus: $34,000 per match

Key Players Missing Out on ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Several high-profile cricketers will be absent from the tournament due to injuries or other reasons:

• Pakistan: Saim Ayub

• India: Jasprit Bumrah

• Australia: Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Marsh

• England: Jacob Bethell

• New Zealand: Ben Sears

• South Africa: Anrich Nortje, Gerald Coetzee

• Afghanistan: AM Ghazanfar

Confirmed Team Squads for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Each of the 8 teams has finalized their 15-member squad, with some last-minute adjustments due to injuries.

Pakistan Squad:

Mohammad Rizwan (C), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Saud Shakeel, Shahin Afridi, Haris Rauf, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, and others.

India Squad:

Rohit Sharma (C), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami, and others.

For a full list of team squads, visit the official ICC Champions Trophy page.

Records in ICC Champions Trophy History

• Most Runs: Chris Gayle (West Indies) - 791 runs in 17 innings.

• Most Wickets: Kyle Mills (New Zealand) - 28 wickets in 15 matches.

Final Thoughts

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is shaping up to be an electrifying tournament, bringing high-octane cricket action back to Pakistan’s stadiums. With elite teams, thrilling encounters, and a grand finale, fans worldwide can expect an unforgettable experience.

For more updates on the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and the official tournament anthem ‘Jeetoo Bazi Khel Ke’, check out our detailed blog post: Jeetoo Bazi Khel Ke – ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Anthem.