Pakistan will host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, with foreign teams arriving as early as the first week of February, according to media reports.
New Zealand and South Africa are set to land in Pakistan in early February for both the tournament and a tri-series, Express News reported.
Both teams will face the host nation in matches scheduled in Karachi and Lahore.
Practice matches for the eight participating teams are scheduled to take place from 12 to 18 February across three venues: Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi cricket stadiums.
Sources reveal that Australia and England are expected to arrive after 10 February, with Afghanistan’s team scheduled to reach Karachi in the second week of February.
The ICC will provide each team with the option to play two practice matches, though participation will be at the teams’ discretion.
The Champions Trophy will officially kick off on 19 February with the opening match between Pakistan and New Zealand, while the final is scheduled for 9 March.
Earlier this week, a delegation from the International Cricket Council (ICC) visited Karachi’s National Bank Stadium to assess the ongoing preparations for the highly anticipated Champions Trophy 2025.
The six-member team, which included ICC officials, broadcasters, and logistics personnel, thoroughly reviewed the venue’s readiness for the tournament. The visit aimed to ensure that all necessary facilities are in place ahead of the tournament's scheduled start on February 19.
Usman Wahla, Director of International Cricket at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), provided a detailed briefing on the development works currently underway at the stadium.
The deadline for completing the required upgrades at the National Bank Stadium is set for January 25, ensuring ample time for final preparations before the Champions Trophy begins.
The tournament, which will feature eight teams competing in 15 matches, will be held from February 19 to March 9 across three venues in Pakistan—Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi—as well as in Dubai.
The eight teams are divided into two groups: Group A includes Pakistan, India, New Zealand, and Bangladesh, while Group B consists of Afghanistan, South Africa, England, and Australia.
Pakistan will face New Zealand in the opening match on February 19 in Karachi, and the highly anticipated clash between arch-rivals Pakistan and India is set for February 23 in Dubai.
