ICC Champions Trophy 2025: India vs Pakistan Match Preview and Tournament Details

Image credits: IANS

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is set to begin on February 19, 2025, and will feature the top 8 ODI teams competing for the prestigious title. The tournament will be hosted by Pakistan, with some matches taking place in the United Arab Emirates as a neutral venue. The India vs Pakistan match is scheduled for February 23 and will be held in Dubai, with former India batter Navjot Singh Sidhu calling it the "mother of all battles".

Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh shared his thoughts on the blockbuster match, remembering his first experience of playing against Pakistan in 2003. He stated that it was one of the greatest ODI games he had played, and that performing well in that game gave him the confidence to become a better player in the future. Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi also added his thoughts on the incident, revealing what happened in that match and how it was a "golden opportunity" for youngsters to shine. The ICC Champions Trophy will follow a format where teams are divided into two groups of four, with the top two from each group advancing to the semi-finals.

The tournament will feature a total of 15 matches, with the final scheduled for March 9 in Lahore, unless India reaches the final, in which case it will be held in Dubai. The ICC has announced the prize money for the Champions Trophy 2025, with the winning team receiving $2.24 million from a total prize pool of $6.9 million. The runner-up will be awarded $1.12 million, and the losing semi-finalists will each get $560,000. Each group stage win is worth over $34,000, and all eight teams are guaranteed $125,000 for participating. The India vs Pakistan match is one of the most anticipated matches of the tournament, with a huge following and intense rivalry between the two teams.

Here are the match scores and team standings so far:

• Pakistan lost to New Zealand by 60 runs in the tournament opener
• India will be playing their opening match against Bangladesh in Dubai

The tournament schedule is as follows:

1. February 19: Pakistan vs New Zealand
2. February 23: India vs Pakistan
3. March 9: Final

The teams participating in the tournament are:

• India
• Pakistan
• New Zealand
• Bangladesh
• Australia
• England
• South Africa
• Sri Lanka

The ICC has also announced that the tournament will feature a new rule, where a Super Over will be used to determine the winner in case of a tie. This will ensure that every match concludes with a definitive result, thereby enhancing the excitement of the competition.

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be broadcast live in India on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network, with coverage available in multiple languages. Tickets for the matches can be purchased online through the official ICC website, with prices starting at AED 125 (approx. ₹2,900) for group matches. The tournament is set to be a thrilling event, with the best teams in the world competing for the prestigious title. With its rich history and intense rivalries, the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is an event not to be missed.