The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is set to begin with Pakistan facing New Zealand on Wednesday, marking a historic moment for the country as it hosts its first major ICC event since co-hosting the 1996 World Cup. This edition of the tournament is particularly significant, as it brings top international teams back to Pakistan after decades of limited cricketing action due to security concerns.
Pakistan Welcomes the Champions Trophy After Three Decades
The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy will see the world’s top eight cricket teams competing in Pakistan. However, due to political reasons, India will play all its matches in the UAE under a hybrid format. Despite being held at a neutral venue, the highly anticipated Pakistan vs. India match is expected to generate immense excitement among cricket fans worldwide.
Pakistan’s return as a full-time host for a global event marks a major milestone in the country’s cricketing history. Since the 2009 terror attack on Sri Lanka’s national team in Lahore, international teams had largely avoided playing in Pakistan. The return of the Sri Lankan Test team in 2019 signaled the slow but steady revival of international cricket in the country.
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What is the ICC Champions Trophy?
The ICC Champions Trophy is a prestigious eight-team, limited-overs tournament that was last played in 2017, where Pakistan defeated India in the final held in England. Initially launched in 1998 and played every two years, the tournament later moved to a four-year cycle, serving as a key event between ICC Cricket World Cups.
For the 2025 edition, the teams qualified based on their rankings following the 2023 ODI World Cup. The groups are as follows:
- Group A: Pakistan (host), India, New Zealand, Bangladesh
- Group B: England, South Africa, Australia, Afghanistan
Pakistan was originally awarded the hosting rights for the 2008 Champions Trophy, but security concerns forced the event to be relocated to South Africa in 2009. Similarly, India was supposed to host the tournament in 2021, but it was replaced by the T20 World Cup, which was ultimately played in the UAE.
With security measures in place and international teams ready to compete, the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is expected to be a landmark event, reinvigorating cricket in Pakistan and providing fans with thrilling contests.
