(Image source from: Twitter.com/ICC)

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday announced the 2025 Champions Trophy schedule after a long delay. The elite tournament, which will be held in a hybrid format, will begin on February 19 in Karachi with a match between Pakistan and New Zealand. The final will take place on March 9. India will play their first Champions Trophy match in February. 20 in Dubai. India play all their matches in Dubai. The eight participating teams are divided into two groups. Group A includes Pakistan, India, New Zealand, Bangladesh, while Group B includes South Africa, Australia, Afghanistan and England. India will face Pakistan on February 23 in Dubai.

Check out the full fixtures for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. pic.twitter.com/oecuikydca

— ICC (@ICC) December 24, 2024

The eight-team tournament will consist of 15 matches and will be held in Pakistan and Dubai, the ICC said. The tournament will be held at three locations in Pakistan: Rawalpindi, Lahore and Karachi. Each stadium in Pakistan will host three group matches, with the second semi-final taking place in Lahore. India will host the final on March 9 in Lahore, failing to qualify, otherwise it will be hosted in Dubai. Both semi-finals and finals have spare days. India will feature in all three group matches, with the first semi-final taking place in Dubai.

Groups:

Group A - Pakistan, India, New Zealand, Bangladesh
Group B - South Africa, Australia, Afghanistan, England

Schedule:

19 February, Pakistan v New Zealand, Karachi, Pakistan
20 February, Bangladesh v India, Dubai
21 February, Afghanistan v South Africa, Karachi, Pakistan
22 February, Australia v England, Lahore, Pakistan
23 February, Pakistan v India, Dubai

24 February, Bangladesh v New Zealand, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
25 February, Australia v South Africa, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
26 February, Afghanistan v England, Lahore, Pakistan
27 February, Pakistan v Bangladesh, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
28 February, Afghanistan v Australia, Lahore, Pakistan
1 March, South Africa v England, Karachi, Pakistan
2 March, New Zealand v India, Dubai
4 March, Semi-final 1, Dubai
5 March, Semi-final 2, Lahore, Pakistan
9 March, Final, Lahore (unless India qualify, when it will be played in Dubai)
10 March, Reserve day