Pakistan vs. New Zealand to Begin CT 2025 on February 19, 2025

Pakistan vs. New Zealand to Begin CT 2025 on February 19, 2025

The ICC officially released the Final Schedule of Champions Trophy 2025 on Tuesday. Dubai has been confirmed as the venue for all India matches.

On February 19 2025, host Pakistan starts the Champions Trophy 2024 and the first match is gonna be against New Zealand in Karachi confirmed by the ICC on Tuesday. India's group matches and one semi-final will take place in Dubai, with a highly anticipated game against Pakistan scheduled for February 23.

Bangladesh is the fourth team in Group A, which also includes India, New Zealand, and the defending champions, Pakistan. Group B has four teams: Afghanistan, South Africa, Australia, and England. The first match of Group B will feature Afghanistan, which is competing for the first time, facing off against former champion South Africa on February 21 in Karachi. The key match between Australia and England will happen on February 22 in Lahore.

Rawalpindi has become the third city in Pakistan to host matches, with two of those games featuring Bangladesh. The second semifinal and the final match will take place in Lahore. However, if India reaches the final, that match will be moved to Dubai on March 9. There will be a reserve day for both the semifinals and the final, and all 15 matches will be played as day-night games, starting at 2:00 PM Pakistan Standard Time.

The Champions Trophy is making a comeback after eight years, but it faced some difficulties when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced they wouldn’t play in Pakistan. After a long wait, everything was sorted out on December 19 when the International Cricket Council (ICC) agreed to allow neutral venues for matches between India and Pakistan for the next three years. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chose the UAE as the neutral location instead of Sri Lanka.

PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi expressed happiness about reaching an agreement based on fairness and respect, highlighting the cooperative spirit of the sport. He thanked ICC members for their help in finding a solution that benefits everyone and supports international cricket.

"Hosting the Champions Trophy is a major achievement for Pakistan, showing our dedication to promoting top-level cricket and our ability to organize great events. We are committed to making this tournament a memorable experience for players, officials, and fans."

Schedule

* Final will be held in Dubai in case India qualify