ICC Champions Trophy 2025 : Fixtures, Squads, News Updates & More
The ICC agreed in November 2021 that the ICC Champions Trophy would be held in 2025 after the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup.
The ICC agreed in November 2021 that the ICC Champions Trophy would be held in 2025 after the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Sarfaraz Ahmed of Pakistan with ICC Champions Trophy//Getty Images
The ninth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy, which is scheduled to start on February 19, will be hosted by defending champions Pakistan. One of the more iconic ICC tournaments, the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, will follow the same format: the top eight ranked ODI (One Day International) men’s teams will fight it out for the coveted silverware.
The ICC tournament returned to the fore after eight long years since the world cricket body (International Cricket Council) decided to do away with it in 2016, with only one major tournament in each format chosen to take place. However, it was agreed in November 2021 that the ICC Champions Trophy would be held in 2025 after the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup.
The then Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja had gotten approval in December 2022 from the government to build a “high-tech” cricket stadium in Islamabad as one of the venues for the tournament.
One of the biggest hurdles to Pakistan hosting the ICC Champions Trophy has been their archrival India, which hasn’t travelled to their neighbouring country in over a decade. With bilateral series between the two cricketing nations on a halt for almost 10 years now, chances of the Men in Blue travelling to Pakistan for the tournament look slim.
The PCB top officials had jointly met the ICC Executive Board in November 2023, during the ODI World Cup, to seek compensation if India didn’t travel to Pakistan citing security concerns. Currently, a hybrid model has been thrown into discussions for hosting the tournament.
ICC Champions Trophy 2025 date
ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be played between dates February 21 - March 14, 2025. The semi-finals and the final are currently scheduled to be played on March 5th, 6th and 9th.
ICC Champions Trophy 2025 host country
Pakistan was selected as the host country of the ICC Champions Trophy on November 16, 2021, while the 2021 Men’s T20 World Cup was still on. This would be a huge event for Pakistan as the cricketing nation hasn’t hosted any ICC event since the 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka national team in Pakistan. The 1996 ODI World Cup was the last major ICC event that was held in Pakistan.
Following that, Pakistan was supposed to host the 2009 ICC Champions Trophy but security reasons saw the event move to England after Australia, New Zealand and England refused to visit Pakistan. This time too, India has expressed disinterest in travelling to Pakistan with India’s matches reported to be played in the neutral venues of UAE.
Image Credits: Alex Davidson-ICC/ICC via Getty Images
ICC Champions Trophy 2025 prize money & Budget
While nothing concrete has been stated, Cricbuzz has reported that ICC allocated a budget of $35 million for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. For participation, $20 million has been given while the prize money and production costs of the tournament would amount to $10 million.
ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Schedule & Fixtures
| Date | Match | Venue |
| 19 February 2025 | New Zealand vs Pakistan | Karachi |
| 20 February 2025 | Bangladesh vs India | Lahore |
| 21 February 2025 | Afghanistan vs South Africa | Karachi |
| 22 February 2025 | Australia vs England | Lahore |
| 23 February 2025 | New Zealand vs India | Rawalpindi |
| 24 February 2025 | Pakistan vs Bangladesh | Lahore |
| 25 February 2025 | Afghanistan vs England | Lahore |
| 26 February 2025 | Australia vs South Africa | Rawalpindi |
| 27 February 2025 | Bangladesh vs New Zealand | Lahore |
| 28 February 2025 | Afghanistan vs Australia | Rawalpindi |
| 1 March 2025 | Pakistan vs India | Lahore |
| 2 March 2025 | South Africa vs England | Rawalpindi |
| 5 March 2025 | 1st Semi-final | Karachi |
| 6 March 2025 | 2nd Semi-final | Rawalpindi |
| 9 March 2025 | Final | Lahore |
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025's group-stage matches will last 12 days before the knockout matches resume after a 12-day break. The India vs. Pakistan clash on March 1, 2025, will be one of the most awaited clashes of the tournament, scheduled to take place in Lahore.
Karachi and Rawalpindi will hold the first and second semi-finals on March 5 and 6, 2025, respectively. With the top teams in international cricket fighting it out for the silverware once again, the ICC Champions Trophy will remain a thrilling event.
Teams Qualified for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy
Apart from the Pakistan cricket team, which qualifies for the tournament by virtue of being the host nation, ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will see seven top teams who have qualified owing to their finish in the 2023 ODI World Cup points table.
ICC Champions Trophy Qualification Table
| Ranks | Team | Played | Won | Lost | Points |
| 1 | India (Q) | 9 | 9 | 0 | 18 |
| 2 | South Africa (Q) | 9 | 7 | 2 | 14 |
| 3 | Australia (Q) | 9 | 7 | 2 | 14 |
| 4 | New Zealand (Q) | 9 | 5 | 4 | 10 |
| 5 | Pakistan (Hosts) | 9 | 4 | 5 | 8 |
| 6 | Afghanistan (Q) | 9 | 4 | 5 | 8 |
| 7 | England (Q) | 9 | 3 | 6 | 6 |
| 8 | Bangladesh (Q) | 9 | 2 | 7 | 4 |
| 9 | Sri Lanka (E) | 9 | 2 | 7 | 4 |
| 10 | Netherlands (E) | 9 | 2 | 7 | 4 |
India
The finalists of the 2023 ODI World Cup will most definitely be one of the tournament favourites in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. With Rohit Sharma leading a team filled with stars like Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Surya Kumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Jaspirt Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav and more, the Men in Blue will have all their bases covered.
South Africa
Yet another strong ODI side, South Africa had reached the semis of the 2023 ODI World Cup and finished as the runners-up in the 2024 T20 World Cup. The Proteas would be hoping to go one step ahead and over the rope this time with a talented and diverse squad, which has played at the peak of its career. Winning their first-ever ICC title will be motivation enough.
Image Credits: Darrian Traynor-ICC/ICC via Getty Images
Australia
The current defending ODI World Cup champions will be another tournament favourite alongside India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Having one of the best ODI sides in world cricket, Australia is the country with the most ICC trophies. With the likes of Mitchell Starc, Glenn Maxwell, Pat Cummins, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh and more coming all guns blazing, Australia will be the team to beat this Champions Trophy.
New Zealand
New Zealand had continued their blistering run in ODI World Cups in 2023 as well before a stupendous semi-final performance by India stopped them. The Kiwis will remain a thorn in the path of every team making it to the knockouts with a squad well-equipped to handle Pakistan’s sub-continental conditions.
Afghanistan
A struggling Sri Lankan team, which has previously won the Champions Trophy tournament, failed to qualify for the 2025 edition of the Champions Trophy leaving the adventurous Afghanistan team in their place. The Blue Tigers had already been on the rise for the past couple of years but their progress was noticeable in the 2023 ODI World Cup when the side finished above England, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka on the points table. Having the right mix of spin, pace and hard hitters, Afghanistan will be the dark horses of the tournament.
England
The rapid rise of the English white-ball cricket team, which saw the side win the 2019 ODI World Cup and 2023 T20 World Cup, has long stalled with the side going through transitions. The leadership roles have changed as well with a new generation of players getting seasoned. Though the likes of Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Jason Roy and more will have a crucial role to play in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the Three Lions come into the edition as mere competitors.
England Captain Eion Morgan with 2019 World Cup Trophy
Bangladesh
Like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh has also seen a slump in form over the past couple of years with the veterans now giving way to the new era. Their dismal 2024 T20 World Cup display doesn’t inspire many people as well. Under a new skipper, the Bangla Tigers will hope for an optimistic outing in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Venue and Locations
ICC Champions Trophy 2025 venue
| City | Stadium | No. of Matches | Capacity |
| Lahore | Gaddafi Stadium | 7 | 27,000 |
| Karachi | National Stadium | 3 | 32,000 |
| Rawalpindi | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium | 5 | 15,000 |
ICC Champions Trophy 2025 groups and format
The event will begin with the group stages with four teams divided into two groups, where the two top sides from each group will go on to play the semi-finals.
The groups have already been announced with India and Pakistan pitted into Group A alongside Bangladesh and New Zealand. Group B will have heavyweights like Australia, South Africa and England alongside a tricky Afghanistan side.
Here are the groups for the tournament:
Group A: India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, New Zealand
Group B: Australia, Afghanistan, England, South Africa
The competition will kick off with group-stage matches, where each team will face the others in their group. The top teams from each group will move on to the semi-finals, leading to the final match. The India-Pakistan clash is expected to be one of the most thrilling encounters. Fans can expect exciting cricket as these top teams compete for the ICC Champions Trophy title.
How many overs in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025?
The ICC Champions Trophy has always been a 50-over format and this time won’t be any different. There will be 15 ODIs in total from the first group stage game to the grand finale.
Top players to watch in ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Rohit Sharma (India)
The Indian cricket team captain was the second-highest scorer in the 2023 ODI World Cup with 597 runs. However, more than the plethora of runs that he scores, Sharma would be instrumental to any ODI side owing to the blistering starts that he provides. His ability to read the delivery off a bowler’s hand and anticipate their next strategy make Rohit Sharma a priceless possession for any side. Having retired from the T20Is, Sharma now focuses solely on ODIs that makes him a more injury-free prospect during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Rohit Sharma of India raises his bat after scoring 100//Getty Images
Virat Kohli (India)
The highest run-scorer in the 2023 ODI World Cup, this could be the king of cricket’s last ICC trophy given the 2027 ODI World Cup is a distance prospect now. Kohli ended the last ODI World Cup with a mammoth 765 runs, the most in the tournament. He also achieved the milestone of scoring 50 ODI centuries, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar in the process. Coming at number three, Kohli remains India’s biggest bet in the fifty-over format now that he has also retired from the T20Is as well.
Travis Head (Australia)
Australia’s newest sledgehammer with the retirement of David Warner, Travis Head was India’s biggest threat in the 2023 ODI World Cup final as he scored 137 runs to help the visitors chase down 241 runs in just 43 overs. In just 68 games, Head has 2614 runs and poses a huge threat to any bowling side alongside his opening partner Mitchell Marsh. Pakistan’s flat pitches will play right into Head’s smash and grab batting style as well.
Babar Azam (Pakistan)
Pakistan’s best batsman in the last few years might have fallen from grace owing to terrible outings in the past few ICC tournaments, but Babar Azam’s quality remains unquestioned. Azam’s performance on the home soil only gets better. Having played 22 ODIs in Pakistan so far, Azam has tallied 1471 runs with a stupendous average of over 70, scoring seven centuries and eight half-centuries in the process.
Babar Azam Cover Drive in ODI
Jasprit Bumrah (India)
If there’s one bowler who can make Pakistan’s ulta batting-friendly track work, it will be Jasprit Bumrah. India’s premier pacer and quite possibly the best in the business at the moment, Bumrah has 57 wickets in 89 ODIs boasting an economy of less than five. With an impressive strike rate of 30.7, Bumrah is India’s most priced possession and the board ensures that he gets enough rest in between series to stay fit for the big tournaments. Bumrah ended with 15 wickets in T20 World Cup 2024, working as a lynchpin in India’s title-winning campaign.
Jos Buttler (England)
Having played in the Indian Premier League quite successfully for years now, Jos Buttler will be England’s best batter in sub-continental conditions. The opener has been in explosive form in such conditions and will look to fire all cylinders from the get-go. Buttler already has three centuries in Pakistan, tallying over 500 runs in 16 games with an average of 61. With the side filled with all-rounders, Buttler will get the license to go big from the start.