More than a month after the schedule was supposed to be released, the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday revealed the Champions Trophy 2025 official schedule.
The tournament, which is set to take place in Pakistan from February 19 to March 9, is currently embroiled in a dispute because the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has refused to send its team there, citing political and security concerns, despite assurances from all member boards regarding the security arrangements and the tentative match schedule.
Earlier this month, the BCCI approved the two-way hybrid concept that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had suggested to deal with India’s refusal to send a team to the event in Pakistan.
According to an ICC announcement, tournament play would be held in Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Karachi.
Three group matches will be played at each Pakistani location, with the second semifinal being held in Lahore.
If India doesn’t qualify, the final will be held in Dubai; otherwise, it will be held in Lahore on March 9.
The PCB declared on Sunday that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) would serve as the neutral location for India’s championship matches.
According to the release, “reserve days will be available for both the semifinals and the final.”
Dubai will host the first semi-final and the three group matches involving India.
On February 19, Pakistan will play New Zealand in the opening match of the Group A competition in Karachi. The next day, India will play Bangladesh in the Dubai leg.
On February 21, Afghanistan will play the Proteas in Karachi in Group B.
On Saturday, February 22, rivals England and Australia will square off in Lahore, setting the stage for the highly anticipated Pakistan-India match the following day.
The teams that placed in the top eight on the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 points table are the eight teams vying for the coveted white winners’ jackets in the Champions Trophy.
Cricket World Cup 2023 champions Australia, Afghanistan, England, and South Africa are in Group B of the competition, while current Champions Trophy holders and hosts Pakistan are in Group A, along with India, New Zealand, and Bangladesh.
Teams:
Group A: Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and New Zealand
Group B: England, Afghanistan, Australia, and South Africa
Schedule for the Champions Trophy:
February 19: Karachi, Pakistan vs. New Zealand
February 20: India vs. Bangladesh, Dubai
Afghanistan vs. South Africa, Karachi, Pakistan, February 21
Australia versus. England, Lahore, Pakistan, February 22
India vs. Pakistan, Dubai, February 23
Bangladesh vs. New Zealand, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, February 24
Australia vs. South Africa, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, February 25
Afghanistan vs. England, Lahore, Pakistan, February 26
February 27: Rawalpindi, Pakistan vs. Bangladesh
Afghanistan vs. Australia, Lahore, Pakistan, February 28
March 1: England vs. South Africa, Karachi, Pakistan
March 2: India vs. New Zealand, Dubai
March 4: Dubai’s first semifinal
March 5: Pakistan’s Lahore hosts the second semifinal
March 9: Lahore final (unless India advances, in which case it will be held in Dubai)
March 10: Day of Reserve
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