The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Tuesday the schedule for the Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, with Karachi hosting the opening match of the mega event on February 19.

The mega event will take place in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates as per the decision made by the host country and the ICC after India refused to visit the neighbouring country.

A highly anticipated match between Pakistan and India would occur on February 23 in Dubai. If India does not reach the final, the decisive match would be held in Lahore.

The final would be played on March 9. Both the semi-finals and the final will have reserve days.

The eight-team tournament will feature 15 matches and will be played across Pakistan and in Dubai.

“In Pakistan, Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Karachi will be the three venues to host tournament play. Each Pakistan venue will feature three group games apiece, with Lahore hosting the second semi-final,” it said.

The three group matches involving India, as well as the first semi-final, would be played in Dubai.

Pakistan take on New Zealand in the Group A tournament opener in Karachi on February 19. The Dubai leg would begin the following day with India taking on Bangladesh.

Group B would start on February 21, with Afghanistan squaring up against the Proteas in Karachi.

A big weekend then would kick off with rivals England and Australia set to clash in Lahore on February 22, with the much-anticipated Pakistan-India clash set for the day later.

The eight sides in the Champions Trophy competing for the famous white winners’ jackets are the teams that finished in the top eight positions on the points table of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.

Group A of the tournament features defending champions, along with India, New Zealand and Bangladesh, while Group B features Cricket World Cup 2023 champions Australia, alongside Afghanistan, England and South Africa.

Groups:

Group A - Pakistan, India, New Zealand, Bangladesh

Group B - South Africa, Australia, Afghanistan, England

Champions Trophy schedule:

February 19, Pakistan v New Zealand, Karachi, Pakistan

February 20, Bangladesh v India, Dubai

February 21, Afghanistan v South Africa, Karachi, Pakistan

February 22, Australia v England, Lahore, Pakistan

February 23, Pakistan v India, Dubai

February 24, Bangladesh v New Zealand, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

25 February, Australia v South Africa, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

February 26, Afghanistan v England, Lahore, Pakistan

February 27, Pakistan v Bangladesh, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

February 28, Afghanistan v Australia, Lahore, Pakistan

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March 1, South Africa v England, Karachi, Pakistan

March 2, New Zealand v India, Dubai

March 4, Semi-final 1, Dubai

March 5, Semi-final 2, Lahore, Pakistan

March 9, Final, Lahore (unless India qualify, when it will be played in Dubai)

March 10, Reserve day

It merits here mentioning that all matches would be day-night encounters.