Debutants Afghanistan will aim to continue their impressive rise in white-ball cricket, while South Africa will once again attempt to shed the ‘chokers’ tag when the two sides kick off their Champions Trophy campaign on Friday (February 21, 2025).

Also Read | Shami, Gill do the star turn as India trumps Bangladesh with ease

The inaugural Champions Trophy in 1998, which was called the Knockout Trophy at that time, remains the only ICC men’s senior title South Africa has secured despite having produced some of the world’s greatest cricketers, especially in the limited-overs format.

The Proteas boast of a well-balanced squad with a formidable batting lineup.

While skipper Temba Bavuma, Tony de Zorzi, Rassie van der Dussen, and Aiden Markram will anchor the top order, the big-hitting trio of Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller and Tristan Stubbs are well-equipped to provide the final flourish.

South Africa’s biggest challenge heading into the tournament is their depleted bowling attack as key pacers Anrich Nortje, Nandre Burger, and Gerald Coetzee ruled out due to injuries.

Known for his pace, aggression, and the knack of striking at crucial moments, Kagiso Rabada will be the Proteas’ key weapon in both the powerplay and death overs.

Marco Jansen, too, will be expected to step up significantly. His ability to build pressure and deliver impactful spells will be crucial.

Meanwhile, Lungi Ngidi will be looking to rediscover his rhythm and confidence after a below-par showing in the recent tri-series.

In the spin department, Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi will have vital roles.

Since the 2023 ODI World Cup, South Africa have won only four of the 14 ODIs they have played. They enter the tournament on the back of a six-match losing streak.

But one cannot overlook the fact that they were not able to field a full strength team in any of these games due to multiple reasons.

Clubbed alongside an off-colour England, injury-plagued Australia and Afghanistan, South Africa have a good chance of advancing to the knockout stage. But the Afghans could prove to be the proverbial banana peel.

The war-torn nation has emerged as strong contenders to make the semifinals.

Their impressive performances in recent ICC events include dominant wins over England, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka in the 2023 ODI World Cup and reaching the semifinals of the T20 World Cup last year.

They have proved more than once that they are no longer underdogs but a force to be reckoned with.

The Adghans have won four of their five bilateral series since the ODI World Cup, including one against South Africa in the UAE.

Their biggest strength expectedly remains their spin attack comprising the redoubtable Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and left-armers Noor Ahmad and Nangeyalia Kharote.

They will play all three group matches in Pakistan where spin will be a decisive factor.

Pacer Azmatullah Omarzai has been a key figure in Afghanistan’s ODI success, with his ability to swing the new ball providing them the powerplay edge.

Fazalhaq Farooqi will be another crucial weapon with ability to provide early breakthroughs and effective variations at the death.

In the batting department, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran will once again be expected to provide a solid start.

Their weakness, however, lies in their middle order, which has often struggled to maintain momentum. This inconsistency has been a concern, and addressing it will be crucial for their success in the tournament.

Squads

South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen, Corbin Bosch.

Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Farid Malik, Naveed Zadran.

Match starts 2:30pm IST.

Preparations underway at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium which is scheduled to host India’s games of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, in Dubai, UAE, on February 18, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI

When the last Champions Trophy game was played at The Oval in 2017, it was the dream match-up the organisers could wish for: archrivals India and Pakistan squared off for the crown, with the latter emerging triumphant. Despite the success of that event, it was axed from the calendar and was replaced by the T20 World Cup in 2021. Eight years later, the tournament is now back, with Pakistan set to host its first ICC competition since the 1996 World Cup.

On Wednesday, when the home team takes on New Zealand in Karachi, it will mark a huge moment for the reigning champion and the culmination of more than half a decade of work to normalise international cricketing activity in the country. India, though, will not be visiting its neighbour and will play all its matches here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

While the focus has been on the preparations and readiness of Pakistan’s stadiums so far, now that the day of reckoning is here, the focus shifts to the on-field action.

Also Read | When and where to watch ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Full schedule, squads and more

The idea of having only the top eight teams was to guarantee high-quality cricket with a built-in jeopardy where every game could matter. Over the next three weeks the fans will hope the spirit of the tournament reflects on the pitch.

Though it is tough to ascertain a clear favourite, considering sides don’t play as many ODI games as before, there is a case to be made that India holds a slight edge even if it has played only nine ODI games since the 2023 World Cup final – the fewest among the participating nations. Rohit Sharma’s men blanked England 3-0 recently and have a settled combination even in the absence of pace spearhead Jaspirt Bumrah.

Drawn alongside Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand in Group-A, the Men in Blue should fancy itself to reach the last four. With the home support behind it, Pakistan will want to defend its crown, but the twin defeat to New Zealand in the recent tri-series, including the final, will be weighing heavily, and Mohammad Rizwan’s men can’t afford another reverse against the Kiwis in the opener. Having played frequently in Pakistan in recent years, the Black Caps will bank on that experience to go deep into the event.

In contrast, Group- B is where things could get interesting and has a potential for surprise. Australia, the ODI champion, doesn’t appear strong on paper. Its bowling attack wears a thin look after losing Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood to injuries, while Mitchell Starc has skipped for personal reasons. The 0-2 loss to Sri Lanka was not ideal preparation either.

Meanwhile, South Africa comes in battered and bruised, having lost its last six ODIs, and England’s one-dimensional approach has limitations, as it found against India. Only Afghanistan, making its CT debut, could feel confident of having a strong chance of progressing from this group. Its potent spin attack, comprising Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, and Mohammed Nabi, could be a handful for teams that don’t play spin well.

However, beyond the cricketing action, the successful conduct of the tournament could herald a new era for Pakistan.

Cricketer Arshdeep Singh. File photo
| Photo Credit: RAGU R

Harshit Rana has been the flavour of the season as far as India’s emerging crop of fast bowlers is concerned but one of head coach Gautam Gambhir’s finds is unlikely to start in India’s playing eleven in the Champions Trophy with Arshdeep Singh still considered way ahead in terms of talent and quality.

The Indian team management gave Harshit all three ODIs against England, and if one is absolutely fair to the burly 6-feet-2-inch tall Delhi speedster, he has not looked out of place.

While Arshdeep enjoys a better economy rate of 5.17 compared to Harshit’s 6.95 per over, it is the former’s ability to bring the ball back into the right-handers during the Powerplay overs that will tilt the scales in his favour in the tournament starting February 19.

Arshdeep, who also has only nine ODIs since he made his debut in a short ODI series in New Zealand in 2022, will be ahead on most counts when one looks at the parameters that would be taken into account based on the conditions available at the Dubai International Stadium.

“Harshit has improved by leaps and bounds in terms of reducing his weight and has become sharper in terms of speed. But if I had to choose one among the two as Mohammed Shami’s partner, it has to be Arshdeep as he can swing the ball both ways and is a left-armer.

“I would be a trifle surprised if Harshit starts ahead of Arshdeep,” former national selector Devang Gandhi, who has also seen Rana from close quarters as Delhi Ranji coach, told PTI.

India will start with a clash against Bangladesh on February 20 here.

It is understood that Harshit started in all three games against England because the team management, currently helmed by Gautam Gambhir, wanted to check out if his protege could be considered as Jasprit Bumrah’s replacement, and also this was the only series where Shami’s fitness could also have been tested in real terms.

Hence, Arshdeep was rested in the first two games and only got a chance when the think-tank decided to rest Shami, who had played back to back ODIs.

Former India opener WV Raman, one of the most respected coaches in the country, feels experience will be a key factor which should go in favour of the Punjab pacer.

“Arshdeep, due to his relative experience and the left arm being a different dimension, has an advantage. The Dubai track will be decent for the pacers,” Raman observed.

He also raised a key point about playing multi-nation event compared to bilateral series.

“A bit more experience always helps in ICC events, which is a different ball game from bilaterals. In ICC event, you will play different opposition every day and accordingly an experienced bowler changes his plans,” said Raman, who has also been India U-19 batting coach and head coach of the national women’s team.

Gandhi, on his part, also pointed out the options Arshdeep brings to the table in various phases of the match.

“Harshit hits deck and gets it to move a bit both ways after pitching along with those effective occasional heavy balls in the range of mid 140s. But when you have Arshdeep, he can swing the new ball and also use angles of the crease effectively when he comes round the wicket during death overs,” he explained.

An NCA Level 2 coach, who had watched the India U-19 team play in Dubai during the Asia Cup, had observed that there is at least five to six inches more bounce on offer at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

“If you have that shade extra bounce for a swing bowler then playing Arshdeep is a no-brainer. Harshit is a good talent but if Shami is fit, then Arshdeep, for variation, experience and game awareness partners him,” the former NCA coach said.

World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev on Friday (February 14, 2025) expressed concern over the rising number of injuries among Indian cricketers, attributing it to the demanding schedule that keeps players in action for almost 10 months each year.

The National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru has turned into a rehabilitation hub, with players spending more time recovering than training.

The latest casualty being India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah who was forced to sit out of the second innings of the final Test in Sydney due to a back injury.

Initially named in the Champions Trophy squad, Bumrah has now been ruled out.

Mohammed Shami, India’s top wicket-taker in the 2023 ODI World Cup (24 wickets), suffered a leg injury post-final and underwent surgery.

His 14-month recovery ruled him out of the BGT series, which India lost for the first time in a decade. Shami’s absence left Bumrah without a reliable bowling partner.

“The only thing that worries me is that they play for 10 months a year — injuries will be much more common,” the 1983 World Cup-winning skipper said at the Tata Steel Golf prize distribution ceremony here.

Asked whether Bumrah would be missed in CT, Kapil urged players to focus on supporting each other rather than dwelling on injured players.

“Why talk about someone who is not in the team? It’s a team game, and the team has to win, not individuals. This is not badminton, tennis, or golf; we are playing a team sport in the Champions Trophy. If we play as a team, we will definitely win,” said the 66-year-old.

“You never want your main players to get injured, but if it happens, you can’t do anything about it. Good luck to my Indian team — go and play well,” he added.

India will begin their Champions Trophy campaign against Bangladesh in Dubai on February 20.

Kapil said he’s excited to see so much rising talents in the Indian cricket team these days.

“When you see the youngsters, their confidence is unbelievable. We didn’t have this much confidence when we were young. Good lluck to them.” A known golf enthusiast and the current PGTI president, Kapil also made a playful pitch for the sport.

“Tell everyone to play golf. If they are not playing cricket, they should come and play golf. If they do, their performance will be better. There is a lot of fun in golf.” Emphasising on the importance of infrastructure for young golfers, he said: “If young players get the right facilities, they will improve. We are trying our best.”

‘LIV Golf will do what IPL did for cricket’

The PGTI head further likened Saudi-backed LIV Golf’s rise to the IPL’s impact on cricket, stressing that more tournaments would only benefit players.

“When the IPL came, everyone benefited. So, whenever there is change, everyone will benefit. The more tournaments, the better. The more events that happen, the better it is for the players,” Kapil said.

Launched in 2021, LIV Golf is a rival to the PGA and DP World Tours, offering lucrative contracts, shorter 54-hole events, team-based formats, and no cuts. It has attracted top golfers but also sparked significant controversy.

Kapil further called for more golf courses to boost India’s Olympic prospects.

“You have to build more golf courses — only then can we play and do well in the Olympics. If you go to Scotland, there are about 100 courses. Here, in Kolkata, you have only two or three.

“There should be more driving ranges; more players will emerge. If you have more schools and colleges, only then will children study, right? Players need opportunities to express themselves.” Dismissing the notion that golf is exclusive to the elite, he gave example of cricket’s transformation.

“Ninety per cent of the top players come from caddie backgrounds. If top players are caddies-turned-pros, then we should remove this notion that golf is an elite game.

“About 60 years ago, only royals played cricket — look at it now! The same will happen with golf; common people will play. This game is for everyone,” he signed off.

Captain Rohit Sharma and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar during a press conference to announce the ODI squad for England and Champions Trophy at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on January 18, 2025.
| Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini

Despite concerns over his fitness, Jasprit Bumrah – the backbone of India’s bowling – was on Saturday (January 18, 2025) included in India’s squad for the Champions Trophy, starting on February 19. While Yashasvi Jaiswal has earned a maiden ODI call-up, Mohammed Shami and Kuldeep Yadav – bowlers who are also on a comeback trail following injury layoffs – have also been selected in the Rohit Sharma-led squad.

The team was picked by the selection committee, chaired by Ajit Agarkar, in the presence of captain Rohit Sharma at the BCCI headquarters here. After a long meeting that lasted well over two hours, Agarkar announced the squad and said that Harshit Rana will be the additional player for the ODI series against England with Bumrah unlikely to be available at least for the first two ODIs.

“With Bumrah, we are waiting to hear about his fitness and when he is likely to be available. At the moment I don’t think he is likely to be fit for the first couple of games,” Agarkar said in a media interaction, hoping that Bumrah will be fit in time.

“I know he was asked to offload for five weeks of bowling, which is early first week February, if I am not wrong. And we’ll probably find out a bit more around that time what exactly and with regards to what his medical condition is. I am sure BCCI might just put something out from the physio itself. It’s better it comes from the medical department than me trying to explain what exactly is wrong with him. But that’s the time frame that we have been told. And hopefully, he is okay after that.”

Match-fit?

Ever since he walked off the field on day two of the Sydney Test on January 4 due to a back injury, Bumrah has been advised rest. It will be interesting to see if he is match fit in the 10-day window after his rest and recovery period gets over on February 8.

No place for Siraj

The Hindu understands that Nitish Reddy and Shivam Dube’s names were discussed as possible back-ups for all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who returned to the ODI set-up since the 2023 ODI World Cup. Kuldeep’s return following a hernia surgery and Ravindra Jadeja’s inclusion as the last name on the team sheet instead of Mohammed Siraj, a pacer, meant the selectors have preferred only three genuine pacers and four spinners in the squad.

Meanwhile, Jaiswal, India’s standout player in 2024, has been handed a maiden ODI call-up as a reserve opener. Rohit referred to his selection over his “potential.”

The squad: Rohit Sharma (Capt.), Shubman Gill (Vice-capt.), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, K.L. Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya,Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja. (Harshit Rana to be the additional player for the three ODIs against England.)

Australia names Pat Cummins as captain for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 scheduled to be from February 19 in Pakistan and UAE.
| Photo Credit: Vijay Soneji

Pat Cummins will captain Australia at the Champions Trophy after being named in a preliminary 15-man squad also featuring fellow quick Josh Hazlewood on Monday (January 13, 2025).

Cummins will skip the test series in Sri Lanka in January and early February for personal reasons but will return to Australia’s colours for the one-day international tournament being played in Pakistan and United Arab Emirates from Feb. 19.

Hazlewood missed the last two tests in the recent series triumph over India because of calf and side injuries but will reunite with Cummins and Mitchell Starc in the pace attack that has helped Australia to multiple successes over the last decade.

There was no place in the squad for opener Jake Fraser-McGurk, who has been short of runs, but otherwise the squad had a familiar feel with all but three of the team that won the 50-overs World Cup in 2023 included.

All-rounders Matt Short and Aaron Hardie as well as quick bowler Nathan Ellis are the least experienced international players in the squad with less than a dozen ODIs each.

“This is a balanced and experienced squad,” head selector George Bailey said in a news release.

“It offers a variety of options for touring management depending on opposition and the conditions that may present in Pakistan.”

The Champions Trophy, which Australia won in 2006 and 2009, was last played in 2017.

The ninth edition of the tournament will run from Feb. 19 to March 9 mostly in Pakistan with only the matches involving India taking place in the UAE for political reasons.

Australia have been drawn with Afghanistan, England and South Africa for the opening group stage.

Squad:

Pat Cummins (captain), Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.

Pakistan Cricket Board officials arrive to visit the Gaddafi Stadium upgradation work in preparation for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, in Lahore. FIle
| Photo Credit: AP

The Pakistan Cricket Board has rubbished speculations that the ICC Champions Trophy will be moved out of the country due to delayed construction work at three stadiums that will host the the event, starting February 19.

The venues in Pakistan organising the tournament are Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium and Karachi’s National Bank Stadium, while India will play all its matches in Dubai.

A PCB source said that the presence of a large International Cricket Council (ICC) delegation, including broadcast, hospitality and event operations officials, is an affirmation that the event is on schedule in Pakistan.

“The PCB has spent nearly PKR 12 billion to upgrade our stadiums to make them fitting for an event like the Champions Trophy, which was awarded to us,” he said.

The source also said that an earlier statement about the stadium’s work progress was also given out because of speculation in the media that the event would be moved out because of incomplete work at the venues.

“We gave the statement because our media also started flashing such speculative news without checking the facts. This would have caused chaos and confusion amongst the PCB, ICC, government, commercial partners and fans affecting the ticketing and marketing of the event,” he said.

The official added that a local reporter had, without permission, filmed the construction work at National Stadium Karachi and presented a negative picture.

“The stadium’s work is being monitored closely by the PCB and concerned officials and they would be ready to host the CT matches on time,” he said.

An injury concern looms over Australian skipper Pat Cummins ahead of next month’s Champions Trophy with the pacer set to undergo a scan on his “sore ankle”, and chairman of selectors George Bailey refusing to confirm his availability for the marquee event.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images

An injury concern looms over Australian skipper Pat Cummins ahead of next month’s Champions Trophy with the pacer set to undergo a scan on his “sore ankle”, and chairman of selectors George Bailey refusing to confirm his availability for the marquee event.

Cummins has been troubled by the ankle issue throughout the Australian summer but managed to guide his team to a 3-1 victory over India in the marquee Border-Gavaskar Test series recently.

Bailey did not commit whether Cummins was a certainty for the Champions Trophy, starting on February 19.

“Not really sure yet, we’ll have to wait and see where that scan comes back and where it’s tracking,” he told ‘nine.com.au’.

Australia announced its squad for the two-Test away series against Sri Lanka with several stalwarts, including Cummins, missing from the list. The team, made up mostly of fresh faces, will be captained by top-order batter Steve Smith.

“Pat’s obviously on paternity leave for the next little bit,” Bailey was quoted a saying on Thursday.

“There’s a little bit of work to do, he’s got a little bit of a sore ankle as well so I think in the next week or so he’s got a scan coming there and we’ll get a bit more information around where that’s at,” he added.

Bailey though expressed confidence that pacer Josh Hazlewood, who was ruled out of the pink-ball Test at Adelaide due to a left side injury and missed the last two games as well due to a calf strain, would be fit for the Champions Trophy.

“He’s working really hard, and all the news on how he’s responding to the calf injury is coming along really well.

On Hazlewood not featuring in the Sri Lanka-bound squad, Bailey said, “It was just probably a little bit tight (for this squad) given the amount of time he would’ve missed and again looking how we potentially may structure up those loads those quicks may be put under.

“It just worked out that unfortunately for him he didn’t quite get there in time (for Sri Lanka Tests) but really confident he should be fit and raring to go for the Champions Trophy,” added Bailey.

A Taliban fighter stands guard as women wait to receive food rations distributed by a humanitarian aid group in Kabul, Afghanistan. Female participation in sport has effectively been outlawed since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, a move that puts the Afghanistan Cricket Board in contravention of International Cricket Council rules. File photo
| Photo Credit: AP

England should refuse to play the Champions Trophy cricket match against Afghanistan next month according to a letter signed by more than 160 U.K. politicians.

The politicians want the England and Wales Cricket Board to take a stand against the Taliban regime’s assault on women’s rights and boycott the men’s one-day international against Afghanistan in Lahore, Pakistan, on Feb. 26.

Female participation in sport has effectively been outlawed since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, a move that puts the Afghanistan Cricket Board in contravention of International Cricket Council rules.

Because Afghanistan’s men are still allowed to compete by the ICC, a strongly worded letter has emerged from the U.K. parliament pleading for the ECB to make its own moral objection.

Penned by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi and signed by a cross-party group from the House of Commons and House of Lords including Nigel Farage and Jeremy Corbyn, it raises the “insidious dystopia” unfolding in Afghanistan.

The statement, addressed to ECB chief executive Richard Gould, concludes: “We strongly urge the England men’s team players and officials to speak out against the horrific treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban.

“We also urge the ECB to consider a boycott of the upcoming match against Afghanistan… to send a clear signal that such grotesque abuses will not be tolerated.

“We must stand against sex apartheid and we implore the ECB to deliver a firm message of solidarity and hope to Afghan women and girls that their suffering has not been overlooked.” Gould issued a swift response, reaffirming ECB principles while suggesting it favoured a uniform approach from all member nations rather than acting alone.

“The ECB strongly condemns the treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime,” he said.

“The ICC constitution mandates that all member nations are committed to the growth and development of women’s cricket. In line with this commitment, the ECB has maintained its position of not scheduling any bilateral cricket matches against Afghanistan.

“A coordinated, ICC-wide approach would be significantly more impactful than unilateral actions by individual members.

“We understand the concerns raised by those who believe that a boycott of men’s cricket could inadvertently support the Taliban’s efforts to suppress freedoms and isolate Afghan society. It’s crucial to recognise the importance of cricket as a source of hope and positivity for many Afghans, including those displaced from the country.”

India will play all their matches of the Champions Trophy in Dubai with the marquee clash against arch-rivals Pakistan scheduled on February 23, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Tuesday (December 24, 2024).

PTI had reported last week that India will play all their matches in Dubai including the semifinal and final if they qualify.

As has been the case with ICC events, India and Pakistan have been clubbed in the same group which also have New Zealand and Bangladesh.

Group B comprises South Africa, Australia, Afghanistan and England.

The tournament opener will be played in Karachi on February 19 when hosts Pakistan face New Zealand and the final is scheduled for March 9. The premier 50-over event, last played in 2017, will have 15 matches with at least 10 games scheduled in Pakistan.

Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Karachi will be the three hosting venues in Pakistan with the second semifinal to be staged at the refurbished Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

“Lahore will also host the final on 9 March, unless India qualify, in which case it will be played in Dubai. Both the semi-finals and the final will have reserve days,” said the ICC in a statement.

India will open their campaign against Bangladesh on February 20 before taking on Pakistan three days later. Their final league fixture will be against New Zealand on March 2.

Group B action begins on February 21 when Afghanistan square up against South Africa in Karachi.

A big weekend then kicks off with rivals England and Australia clashing in Lahore on February 22.

The eight sides in the Champions Trophy are the teams that finished in the top eight in the points table at ODI World Cup in India last year.

The ICC has kept reserve days for both the semifinals and the final.

The schedule was announced after a deadlock over the hosting of the tournament ended with the ICC keeping India’s games at a neutral venue as desired while having a similar arrangement for Pakistan for ICC events in India till 2027.

The hybrid arrangement will also apply to the 2025 women’s ODI World Cup in India and the T20 World Cup in 2026 in India and Sri Lanka.

India had refused to travel to Pakistan for the event due to security concerns. The Indians have not played in Pakistan since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks in which 150 people were killed.

The two countries’ last bilateral engagement was back in 2012. Travelling to Pakistan also requires Indian government’s clearance, which has remained firm on the status quo.

While the BCCI’s stance was always clear, the matter got stretched because of the PCB’s refusal to allow a “one-sided” arrangement of neutral venues.

PCB, which had sent its team to India for the ODI World Cup last year, had categorically opposed the hybrid model but eventually agreed to it on reciprocal grounds.

Groups

Group A: Bangladesh, India, New Zealand and Pakistan

Group B: Afghanistan, Australia, England and South Africa

The schedule

February 19, 2025 – Pakistan v New Zealand, National Stadium, Karachi

February 20, 2025 – Bangladesh v India, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

February 21, 2025 – Afghanistan v South Africa, National Stadium, Karachi

February 22, 2025 – Australia v England, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

February 23, 2025 – Pakistan v India, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

February 24, 2025 – Bangladesh v New Zealand, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

February 25, 2025 – Australia v South Africa, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

February 26, 2025 – Afghanistan v England, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

February 27, 2025 – Pakistan v Bangladesh, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

February 28, 2025 – Afghanistan v Australia, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

March 1, 2025 – South Africa v England, National Stadium, Karachi

March 2, 2025 – New Zealand v India, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

March 4, 2025 – Semi-final 1, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai*

March 5, 2025 – Semi-final 2, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore**

March 9, 2025 – Final – Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore***

All matches start at 14h00 Pakistan Standard Time

* Semi-final 1 will involve India if they qualify

**Semi-final 2 will involve Pakistan if they qualify

*** If India qualify for the final it will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai