The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is set to be one of the most exciting cricket tournaments of the year. Featuring the top eight ODI teams in the world, the tournament will be played across Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This will be the first ICC event held in Pakistan since 1996, making it a historic moment for cricket fans in the region.

Let’s dive into the complete match schedule, team analysis, and key highlights of the tournament.

Tournament Overview

• Host Countries: Pakistan & UAE
• Number of Teams: 8
• Format: Round-robin group stage followed by semi-finals and final
• Venues: Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi (Pakistan) & Dubai (UAE)
• Start Date: February 19, 2025
• Final Date: March 9, 2025

Complete Match Schedule

The tournament is divided into two groups, each consisting of four teams.

Group A:

• ?? India
• ?? Pakistan
• ?? New Zealand
• ?? Bangladesh

Group B:

• ?? Australia
• EN England
• ?? South Africa
• ?? Afghanistan

Group Stage Fixtures

Group A Matches

1. New Zealand vs Pakistan – Feb 19, 2025 (Karachi)
2. Bangladesh vs India – Feb 20, 2025 (Dubai)
3. Pakistan vs India – Feb 23, 2025 (Dubai)
4. Bangladesh vs New Zealand – Feb 24, 2025 (Rawalpindi)
5. Pakistan vs Bangladesh – Feb 27, 2025 (Rawalpindi)
6. New Zealand vs India – Mar 2, 2025 (Dubai)

Group B Matches

1. South Africa vs Afghanistan – Feb 21, 2025 (Karachi)
2. England vs Australia – Feb 22, 2025 (Lahore)
3. Australia vs South Africa – Feb 25, 2025 (Rawalpindi)
4. Afghanistan vs England – Feb 26, 2025 (Lahore)
5. Afghanistan vs Australia – Feb 28, 2025 (Lahore)
6. South Africa vs England – Mar 1, 2025 (Karachi)

Knockout Stage

1. Semi-final 1: (A1 vs B2) – Mar 4, 2025 (Dubai)
2. Semi-final 2: (B1 vs A2) – Mar 5, 2025 (Lahore)
3. Final: Mar 9, 2025 (Venue TBD)

India vs Pakistan – The Biggest Clash of the Tournament

The biggest fixture of the Champions Trophy 2025 will undoubtedly be the India vs Pakistan match on February 23 in Dubai. Due to security concerns, India will play all its matches in UAE instead of Pakistan.

This high-voltage encounter is expected to break viewership records, especially with Virat Kohli, Babar Azam, Rohit Sharma, and Shaheen Afridi set to take center stage.

Key Battles to Watch:

• Rohit Sharma vs Shaheen Afridi
• Virat Kohli vs Haris Rauf
• Babar Azam vs Jasprit Bumrah

Team Analysis & Strengths

? Group A Teams

?? India – Title Contenders?

• Captain: Rohit Sharma
• Key Players: Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah
• Strengths: Strong batting lineup, world-class pace attack
• Concerns: Death bowling, middle-order stability

?? Pakistan – Home Advantage?

• Captain: Mohammad Rizwan
• Key Players: Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Shadab Khan
• Strengths: Deadly pace attack, experienced top-order
• Concerns: Middle-order inconsistency, pressure handling

?? New Zealand – The Dark Horses

• Captain: Mitchell Santner
• Key Players: Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, Devon Conway
• Strengths: Balanced squad, experienced players
• Concerns: Lack of firepower in spin department

?? Bangladesh – Can They Cause Upsets?

• Captain: Najmul Hossain Shanto
• Key Players: Litton Das, Mustafizur Rahman, Mehidy Hasan
• Strengths: Skilled all-rounders, quality spinners
• Concerns: Weak batting in big matches

? Group B Teams

?? Australia – Five-Time Champions Aim for Glory

• Captain: Steve Smith
• Key Players: David Warner, Pat Cummins, Glenn Maxwell
• Strengths: Aggressive approach, match-winners in every department
• Concerns: Over-dependence on senior players

?‍☠️ England – Powerhouse of White-Ball Cricket

• Captain: Jos Buttler
• Key Players: Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow
• Strengths: Deep batting lineup, explosive hitters
• Concerns: Death bowling issues

?? South Africa – Always the Underdogs

• Captain: Temba Bavuma
• Key Players: Quinton de Kock, Kagiso Rabada, Aiden Markram
• Strengths: Strong bowling attack, experience in subcontinent conditions
• Concerns: Pressure in knockout games

?? Afghanistan – Spin Wizards

• Captain: Rashid Khan
• Key Players: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman
• Strengths: Best spin attack in the tournament
• Concerns: Weak middle order, lack of experience in high-pressure matches

Top Players to Watch in Champions Trophy 2025

1. Virat Kohli (India) – Big-match player, crucial in knockouts
2. Babar Azam (Pakistan) – Pakistan’s batting mainstay
3. Jasprit Bumrah (India) – The best death bowler in the world
4. Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan) – Dangerous in the powerplay
5. Glenn Maxwell (Australia) – Match-winner with bat and ball
6. Rashid Khan (Afghanistan) – Game-changer in spin-friendly conditions
7. Ben Stokes (England) – Impact player in pressure situations
8. Kagiso Rabada (South Africa) – Lethal fast bowler

Final Thoughts

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is expected to be a thrilling tournament with intense rivalries, world-class performances, and unforgettable moments.

• Will India reclaim the title after their 2013 win?
• Can Pakistan capitalize on home advantage?
• Will Australia add another ICC trophy to their collection?

Cricket fans worldwide are eagerly waiting for the action to unfold. Who do you think will win the Champions Trophy 2025? Let us know your predictions!