The ninth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will begin today with the defending champions, Pakistan, taking on New Zealand in the opening match at the National Stadium in Karachi. The match is set to start at 2pm PKT.
This year’s tournament will see eight teams compete across three venues in Pakistan – Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi – as well as in Dubai, UAE, from 19 February to 9 March.
This is the first time since the 1996 ICC Cricket World Cup that Pakistan will host an ICC event, with the final of that tournament held at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Ahead of the Champions Trophy, the three Pakistani venues – Gaddafi Stadium, National Stadium, and Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium – have undergone extensive upgrades, offering world-class facilities for players and spectators alike.
Pakistan enters the tournament as the defending champions, having won the 2017 edition by defeating India in the final. In that match, Fakhar Zaman scored 114 runs off 106 balls, earning him Player of the Match honors, while Hasan Ali was named Player of the Tournament for his 13 wickets across five games.
The tournament features eight teams divided into two groups. Group A includes Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, and New Zealand, while Group B comprises Afghanistan, Australia, England, and South Africa.
Following their opener against New Zealand, Pakistan will face India on 23 February in Dubai and Bangladesh on 27 February in Rawalpindi.
The group stage will see matches played across the four venues: Dubai, Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi. The first semi-final will be held on 4 March in Dubai, with the second semi-final scheduled for 5 March at Gaddafi Stadium. If India does not qualify for the final, it will be held in Lahore; otherwise, the final will take place at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Apart from their 2017 victory, Pakistan has reached the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy three times: in 2000, 2004, and 2009.
Captain Mohammad Rizwan expressed pride in hosting a global event in Pakistan after 29 years, stating: “The entire nation is celebrating this historic occasion. We’ve worked hard and learned from our mistakes. Our sole focus is on winning the tournament for our country and our people, and we hope to achieve the desired results.”
Over 12,000 cops deployed for Champions Trophy
The Punjab Police spokesperson said over 12,000 police officers and personnel will be deployed for security duties in Lahore and Rawalpindi.
The security team will include 18 senior officers, 54 DSPs, 135 inspectors, and 1,200 upper subordinates, along with 10,556 constables and more than 200 female police officers.
In Lahore, over 8,000 officers and personnel will be assigned to secure the matches. This includes 12 senior officers, 39 DSPs, 86 inspectors, and 700 upper subordinates, while 6,673 constables and 129 female constables will perform security and checking duties.
In Rawalpindi, more than 5,000 officers and personnel will be on duty.
The security force will comprise six senior officers, 15 DSPs, 50 inspectors, 500 upper subordinates, 4,000 constables, and over 100 female personnel.
Pakistan’s squad for Champions Trophy
Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Tayyab Tahir, and Usman Khan.
