ICC Champions Trophy 2025: India-Pakistan thriller on Feb 23 as ICC releases mega tournament fixtures
Xtra Time Web Desk: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released the schedule for the Champions Trophy 2025, set to run from February 19 to March 9. Pakistan will co-host the tournament alongside the UAE under a hybrid model agreed upon by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Key Highlights:
Opening match: Pakistan vs New Zealand in Karachi on February 19.
India-Pakistan clash: February 23 in Dubai.
Final venue: Dubai if India qualifies; otherwise, Lahore.
Broadcast: Star Sports in India, with all matches starting at 2:30 PM IST.
The hybrid hosting model allocates 10 matches to Pakistan, while India's league-stage games, including the marquee India-Pakistan face-off, the semi-final, and final, will be in Dubai.
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Defending Champions:
Pakistan enters as the defending champions, having triumphed in 2017 by defeating India in the final. A standout performance by Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Amir had sealed their victory.
Under the leadership of Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan is in strong form, with recent ODI series wins in Australia and South Africa, setting the stage for an exciting tournament.
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ICC Champions Trophy Groups
Group A: Bangladesh, India, New Zealand and Pakistan
Group B: Afghanistan, Australia, England and South Africa
