The schedule for the 2025 Champions Trophy has been identified, with the tournament set to occur between February 19 and March 9. This 20-day window for the eight-team, 50-over competition has been confirmed by multiple sources from various cricket boards and the International Cricket Council (ICC). This will be the first time the Champions Trophy is held since Pakistan's victory over India in the 2017 final at The Oval.
Although the specific match dates have yet to be finalised, the entire tournament will be contained within this identified period. Initially, there was speculation that the event would begin on a Friday and wrap up on a Sunday. However, the revealed window indicates that February 19 is a Wednesday and March 9 falls on a Sunday. The previous edition in 2017 spanned 19 days, starting on a Thursday (June 1) and concluding on a Sunday (June 18).
These proposed dates for the 2025 Champions Trophy have been communicated to member boards to allow them to adjust their league schedules accordingly. Notably, the IL T20 has announced its third season will run from January 11 to February 9, closely overlapping with the SA20, which will host its third season from January 9 to February 8.
There remains uncertainty about whether all the Champions Trophy matches will take place in Pakistan. With the BJP government continuing in India, it is anticipated that the current diplomatic stance towards Pakistan will remain unchanged, although no official announcement has been made. Should this policy persist, the tournament might adopt a hybrid model similar to the one used for the previous year’s Asia Cup, potentially involving matches being held in the UAE.
Decisions regarding the Indian team's participation in Pakistan are yet to be finalised. "We expect to have a clearer picture within the next two months," said a well-informed source. The ICC's annual conference in Colombo this July is expected to provide further clarity, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) likely to have a better understanding of the government’s stance on the issue by then.
Previously, Cricbuzz reported that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has designated Lahore as the venue for matches involving India. This choice aims to minimise travel for the Indian team and facilitate easier fan access through the Wagah border.