Champions Trophy 2025: Lahore to host India-Pakistan clash

As the intense match between India and Pakistan in New York concludes, their next major encounter is not far off. The arch-rivals are set to meet again in the Champions Trophy in March 2025, just eight months from now.

The draft schedule for the 2025 Champions Trophy has been submitted to the International Cricket Council (ICC), with the India-Pakistan match slated to be the final fixture of the league stage.

The ICC has identified the window for the 2025 Champions Trophy from February 19 to March 9. The tournament will span 20 days, marking its first occurrence since 2017.

It is still unclear whether all matches of the Champions Trophy will be held in Pakistan. With the BJP government back in power in India, it is expected that the current policy towards Pakistan will continue. However, no official statement has been made yet.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has proposed Lahore as the venue for India’s matches to minimize travel for the Indian team and to facilitate fans who can easily reach Lahore via the Wagah border. If this plan fails, the hybrid model used for last year’s Asia Cup might be implemented, meaning several matches could be held in the UAE.

The opening match is scheduled to take place in Karachi on Wednesday, February 19. The two semifinals are proposed to be held in Karachi and Rawalpindi, with the final set for Lahore on Sunday, March 9. If India qualifies, all their matches are planned to be held in Lahore.

At this stage, neither the PCB nor the ICC is officially discussing the hybrid model, although last-minute changes are not unprecedented. All eyes are now on the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Indian government to see how the situation unfolds.