The schedule for the ICC Champions Trophy has been introduced forward of the event’s long-awaited return in 2025.
The 50-over competitors returns to the worldwide calendar for the primary time since 2017, with Pakistan staging a worldwide cricket occasion for the primary time since co-hosting the 1996 World Cup with India and Sri Lanka.
Defending champions and hosts Pakistan kick the 15-match, eight-team event off towards New Zealand in Karachi on February 19.
Bangladesh and India be part of Pakistan and New Zealand in Group A, with Afghanistan, Australia, England and South Africa positioned in Group B.
England’s first match of the event sees them face 2006 and 2009 winners Australia in Lahore on February 22 forward of an unmissable contest between Pakistan and India on February 23 in Dubai.
After the conclusion of the 12 group-stage matches, the highest two sides in every group will progress to the semi-finals, with the winners competing within the ultimate in Lahore on March 9 to get their palms on the Champions Trophy and an iconic white jacket.
The place are matches being performed?
Stadiums in Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi will host matches in Pakistan, with matches involving India held within the United Arab Emirates.
The impartial venue in Dubai was chosen after the ICC confirmed all matches between Pakistan and India in ICC tournaments, each women and men’s and together with subsequent yr’s Girls’s World Cup, will probably be performed at impartial venues up till at the very least 2027.
Political tensions between the 2 nations have led to strained sporting relations and India, cricket’s richest and strongest nation, haven’t performed a sport in Pakistan because the 2008 Asia Cup.
In consequence, India will play in semi-final 1 in Dubai in the event that they qualify, with Pakistan assigned semi-final 2 in Lahore in the event that they progress. The ultimate, which is scheduled to happen in Lahore on March 9, can even be moved to the UAE if India qualify.
India will play their Champions Trophy matches within the United Arab Emirates
ICC Champions Trophy schedule
Group A
Feb 19: Pakistan v New Zealand (Karachi)
Feb 20: Bangladesh v India (Dubai)
Feb 23: Pakistan v India (Dubai)
Feb 24: Bangladesh v New Zealand (Rawalpindi)
Feb 27: Pakistan v Bangladesh (Rawalpindi)
Feb 28: Afghanistan v Australia (Lahore)
Group B
Feb 21: Afghanistan v South Africa (Karachi)
Feb 22: Australia v England (Lahore)
Feb 25: Australia v South Africa (Rawalpindi)
Feb 26: Afghanistan v England (Lahore)
Mar 1: South Africa v England (Karachi)
Mar 2: New Zealand v India (Dubai)
Semi-finals
Mar 4: Semi-final 1, A1 v B2 (Dubai)*
Mar 5: Semi-final 2, A2 v B1 (Lahore)**
Closing
Mar 9: Winner of semi-final 1 v Winner of semi-final 2 (Lahore)***
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