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With Team India’s participation in the ICC Champions Trophy still under discussion, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has assured the participation of its men’s team in the 50-over ICC major, which is set to be played in February - March 2025 in Pakistan. Moreover, this assurance from Afghanistan comes after their widespread apprehension of non-participation.
Earlier, it was speculated that Team India’s uncertainty over participation in the Champions Trophy could provoke other boards, including Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to play their matches outside of Pakistan, but these reports have come as a positive to Pakistan, who aim to keep their focus on hosting the tournament after no discussions were held in the recently concluded AGM.
Earlier, in an interview, former PCB Chairman, Khalid Mehmood asserted that if India were withdrawing their participation from the Champions Trophy, it could prompt other boards to follow their footsteps. But the ACB President, Mirwais Ashraf and CEO, Naseeb Khan, who were part of the Annual General Meeting (AGM), recently hosted by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in Colombo, Sri Lanka, assured of Afghanistan’s participation in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy.
An official from Pakistan Cricket Board remarked that Afghanistan’s has assured their first-ever participation in the Champions Trophy. “They told the chairman that Afghanistan is looking forward to sending its team to Pakistan since they are participating in the Champions Trophy for the first time,” an official from the PCB stated as quoted by NDTV Sports.
Champions Trophy 2025 Tentative Schedule
February 19th: Pakistan vs New Zealand, Karachi
February 20th: India vs Bangladesh, Lahore
February 21st: Afghanistan vs South Africa, Karachi
February 22nd: Australia vs England, Lahore
February 23rd: India vs New Zealand, Lahore
February 24th: Pakistan vs Bangladesh, Rawalpindi
February 25th: Afghanistan vs England, Lahore
February 26th: South Africa vs Australia, Rawalpindi
February 27th: Bangladesh vs New Zealand, Lahore
February 28th: Afghanistan vs Australia, Rawalpindi
March 1st: Pakistan vs India, Lahore
March 2nd: South Africa vs England, Rawalpindi
March 5th: Semi Final 1st (TBC vs TBC), Karachi
March 6th: Semi Final 2nd (TBC vs TBC), Rawalpindi
March 9th: Final (TBC vs TBC), Lahore
