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The much-anticipated ICC Champions Trophy is all set to return next year with Pakistan hosting the tournament in a hybrid model after International Cricket Council’s (ICC) tough call on Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). While the tournament will mark its return for the first time since 2017, India and Pakistan are set to renew their highly-anticipated rivalry.
Although, the ICC hasn’t yet announced the schedule for the marquee tournament, but according to several reports doing rounds, India is set to lock horns with Pakistan on February 23, 2025. Earlier, Pakistan were scheduled to host the tournament entirely, but Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) denied Team India’s travel to Pakistan, citing security concerns.
India to face Pakistan on February 23 in Dubai: Reports
After BCCI’s denial, the tournament will be held in a hybrid model with India playing all its matches either in the UAE or Sri Lanka. As per a report, while Colombo was touted as a strong choice after being co-host of the 2023 Asia Cup, it appears that Sri Lanka will not get the hosting rights for the Champions Trophy 2025.
According to a report by Cricket Pakistan, all stakeholders, including BCCI, PCB have reached an agreement that Dubai will serve as the neutral venue, thus seeing India-Pakistan lock horns on February 23. As per the reports, the gulf country will host at least five matches in the tournament, which includes all three matches of the Indian cricket team. One semi-final and the final are also expected to move to Dubai.
Further, according to reports, while the tournament will begin from February 19, the two semi-finals are scheduled to be played on March 4 and 5, whereas the final is scheduled for March 9. For India, the Rohit Sharma-led side will kickstart their league stage campaign against Bangladesh on February 20, followed by a game against pakistan (February 23) and New Zealand (March 2).
