ICC Champions Trophy 2025: The Complete Guide – All You Need to Know

ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Everything You Need to Know

The highly anticipated ninth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy is set to begin on February 19, with Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates serving as co-hosts.

This will be the first Champions Trophy since 2017, when Pakistan secured their maiden title. As the defending champions, Pakistan will host most of the matches, while India will play all their games in Dubai.

Opening Match

The tournament will kick off with Pakistan facing New Zealand in Karachi on February 19.

How to Watch Live

Here’s a complete list of broadcasters and streaming platforms for the tournament:

• Afghanistan: ATN
• Australia: Prime Video
• Bangladesh: Nagorik TV & T Sports (TV), Toffee app (Digital)
• Caribbean: ESPNCaribbean (TV), ESPN Play Caribbean (Streaming)
• India: JioStar (TV on Star & Network 18, Streaming on Jio Hotstar)
• New Zealand: Sky Sport NZ (TV), Now & SkyGo app (Streaming)
• Pakistan: PTV & Ten Sports (TV), Myco & Tamasha app (Streaming)
• South Africa & Sub-Saharan Africa: SuperSport & SuperSport App
• Sri Lanka: Maharaja TV (TV1 on TV), Sirasa (Digital)
• UAE & MENA: CricLife Max & CricLife Max2 (TV), STARZPLAY (Streaming)
• UK: Sky Sports Cricket, Main Event, Action (TV), SkyGO, NOW & Sky Sports App (Streaming)
• USA & Canada: WillowTV (TV), Willow by Cricbuzz app (Streaming)

Qualification

Unlike previous editions, where the top-eight ranked ODI teams qualified, the 2025 tournament features teams based on their performance in the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. The top eight teams, including host Pakistan, earned their spots.

Groups

• Group A: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, New Zealand
• Group B: Australia, Afghanistan, England, South Africa

Debutants

Afghanistan will make their Champions Trophy debut, following their historic 2023 Cricket World Cup campaign, where they defeated England, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Led by Hashmatullah Shahidi, they also reached the semi-finals of the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

Tournament Format

The format remains unchanged since the eight-team structure was introduced in 2006:

• Two groups of four teams each
• Each team plays every other team in their group once
• Top two teams from each group qualify for the semi-finals
• The winners of the semi-finals will compete in the final

Prize Money

A total prize pool of $6.9 million has been announced, marking a 53% increase from the 2017 edition.

• Winners: $2.24 million
• Runners-up: $1.12 million
• Losing Semi-finalists: $560,000 each

Key Dates

• Tournament Opener: February 19 – Pakistan vs. New Zealand (Karachi)
• India’s First Match: February 20 – vs. Bangladesh (Dubai)
• India vs. Pakistan Clash: Blockbuster match on the weekend following February 20
• Australia vs. England: A classic rivalry match on the same weekend
• Semi-finals: March 4 & 5 (Dubai & Lahore)
• Final: March 9 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore (unless India qualifies, in which case the final will be played in Dubai)

Previous Final (2017)

In the 2017 Champions Trophy final, Pakistan defeated India by 180 runs at The Oval, London.

• Fakhar Zaman was awarded Player of the Match for his century.
• Hasan Ali was named Player of the Tournament.

With top teams, exciting matchups, and high stakes, the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy promises to be a thrilling spectacle!