Champion Trophy 2025: After a thrilling and breathtaking match in New York on Sunday, India and Pakistan’s next major encounter is not far off. The arch-rivals should face again in eight months, in the Champions Trophy in March 2025. Unless the two countries participate in the knockout stages of the ongoing Twenty20 World Cup, which begins in the Caribbean later this month.
A draft schedule for the 2025 Champions Trophy has been submitted to the International Cricket Council (ICC). However, the India-Pakistan game will be the final of the league matches in the eight-team, 15-match tournament. It’s going to start between February 19 and March 9. The matches’ dates are being considered.
Most Probable Schedule For Champion Trophy
The projected schedule indicates that the Pakistan-India match will be held in Lahore. This is, of course, subject to the Government of India’s agreement to play in Pakistan. Otherwise, the tournament may have to use a hybrid format. Similar to the one used for last year’s Asia Cup, with the UAE serving as the site for India’s games.
However, the PCB is said to have been instructed to proceed with its preparations. As is widely known, the PCB has selected Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi as the venues for the 20-day competition. Yet, Lahore serves as the primary hub for the India games.
As per schedule, there will be seven matches in Lahore. Five in Rawalpindi. And three in Karachi, the ‘city of lights’.
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The Champion Trophy is Set To Begin Soon
The opening match is planned for Wednesday, February 19, in Karachi. There will be two semifinals taking place in Rawalpindi and Karachi respectively. According to the suggested schedule, the final is on March 9, a Sunday. That would be held in Lahore, which has also been assigned all India games as well as the semifinal, if they qualify.
At this point, neither the PCB nor the ICC are discussing a hybrid model. It is not unusual for the situation to alter at the last minute, however. All eyes will now be on the BCCI and the Indian government.
India Did Not Travel to Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2023
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The two Asian Nations last played a bilateral series in India from December 2012 to January 2013. Since then, the two neighbors, but only historical rivals, have played each other in multi-national events. Such as the ICC, Asia Cups, and Nidahas Champion Trophy.
Last year, the PCB made its best efforts to plan a hybrid strategy to hold the Asia Cup. Still, all of the Indian cricket team’s matches were held in Sri Lanka, including a game with Pakistan-India.
Recently, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla spoke about India’s participation in the next premier tournament. Rajeev Shukla remarked that they would send their team only if the Government of India permits them to do so.
“For the Champion Trophy 2025, we will do whatever the Indian Government tells us to do. We only deploy our team when the Government of India grants us permission. So we would follow the judgment of the Indian government,” Rajeev Shukla told ANI.
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