ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Everything You Need to Know

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is one of the most anticipated cricket tournaments of the year. After an eight-year hiatus, the prestigious event is set to return, featuring the top eight teams competing for the coveted title.

Tournament Overview

The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is scheduled to start on February 19, 2025, and will be jointly hosted by Pakistan and the UAE. This marks the first time since 2017 that the tournament is being played, adding to the excitement among cricket fans worldwide.

Host Nations and Venues

Pakistan was originally chosen as the sole host of the event, but due to political and security concerns, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been added as a co-host. As a result, matches will be played across multiple venues in both countries.

• Pakistan: Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi are expected to be the primary venues.
• UAE: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah will host some matches, including all of India’s fixtures.

Participating Teams

The tournament will feature eight teams, which have qualified based on their rankings in One Day Internationals (ODIs). These teams include:

1. Pakistan (Host)
2. India
3. Australia
4. England
5. New Zealand
6. South Africa
7. Bangladesh
8. Afghanistan

Format of the Tournament

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will follow the traditional format:

• The eight teams will be divided into two groups of four.
• Each team will play the others in their group once.
• The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals.
• The winners of the semi-finals will compete in the final to determine the champion.

Key Matches to Watch

1. India vs Pakistan – One of the most anticipated encounters in world cricket, this match will be played in UAE, ensuring high viewership and excitement.
2. Australia vs England – The Ashes rivalry takes on an ODI format.
3. Semi-finals and Final – The knockout stage is expected to deliver high-intensity cricket.

India’s Matches in UAE

Due to political reasons, the Indian cricket team will play all its matches in the UAE instead of traveling to Pakistan. This arrangement ensures smooth participation and viewership from Indian fans.

Previous Winners of the ICC Champions Trophy

• 1998 – South Africa
• 2000 – New Zealand
• 2002 – India and Sri Lanka (shared)
• 2004 – West Indies
• 2006 – Australia
• 2009 – Australia
• 2013 – India
• 2017 – Pakistan

With Pakistan being the defending champions from 2017, they will aim to retain their title on home soil.