Your Guide to the 2025 Champions Trophy
The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy gets underway on February 19 in Pakistan for the first edition of the tournament in eight years.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Champions Trophy.
What is the Champions Trophy?
Originally known as ICC knockout trophy, the Champions Trophy is a 50 over competition that began in 1998 and ran every four years until 2017, when it was axed by the ICC.
However in 2021 it was announced that Pakistan would host the tournament this year with India to host in 2029. This will be the first time Pakistan has hosted a global ICC event since 1996 due to safety concerns following terrorist attacks in 2009.
Alongside the games in Pakistan, all of India’s games will be played at a neutral venue in the UAE, including the semi-final and final should India make it that far in the tournament.
How does the competition work?
The Champions Trophy is made up of the top eight teams in one-day cricket with the sides split into two groups of four and the top two sides from each group advancing to the semi-finals.
Group A contains Pakistan, India, New Zealand and Bangladesh meanwhile England will take on Australia, South Africa and Afghanistan in Group B.
The tournament’s curtain raiser takes place on February 19 at 09:00 GMT as hosts Pakistan take on New Zealand at the National Stadium in Karachi.
With the group stage coming to an end on March 2 the semi-finals will be played on March 4 and 5.
The final is scheduled to take place on March 9 at either the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore or in Dubai should India make it that far.
When do England play?
England come into the tournament as outsiders having endured a poor run of form in limited overs cricket in recent times.
Earlier this month England lost an ODI series against India 3-0 following a 4-1 defeat against the same opponents in a T20 series in Brendon McCullum’s first series as white ball coach.
McCullum’s side get their tournament underway on Saturday February 22 against the old enemy Australia before facing Afghanistan on February 26 and then South Africa on March 1.
