Pakistan Set to Defend Champions Trophy Title as 2025 Edition Kicks Off Today

The ninth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 starts today, with defending champions Pakistan facing New Zealand in the tournament opener at National Stadium, Karachi. The match is scheduled to begin at 2 PM PST.

This year’s tournament will feature eight teams competing across three venues in Pakistan—Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi—as well as in Dubai, UAE. The competition runs from February 19 to March 9.

Pakistan is hosting an ICC event for the first time since the 1996 ICC Cricket World Cup, where the final was played at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. Ahead of the tournament, the three Pakistani venues—Gaddafi Stadium, National Stadium, and Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium—have undergone major renovations to enhance facilities for players and spectators.

Pakistan’s Champions Trophy History & Tournament Format

Pakistan enters the tournament as the reigning champions, having won the 2017 edition by defeating India in the final. In that memorable match, Fakhar Zaman smashed 114 runs off 106 balls, earning him Player of the Match, while Hasan Ali was named Player of the Tournament for taking 13 wickets in five matches.

The eight participating teams are divided into two groups:

• Group A: Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, New Zealand
• Group B: Afghanistan, Australia, England, South Africa

Pakistan’s group-stage fixtures include:

• February 19: vs New Zealand in Karachi
• February 23: vs India in Dubai
• February 27: vs Bangladesh in Rawalpindi

The group stage matches will be played across Dubai, Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi. The semi-finals are set for March 4 in Dubai and March 5 in Lahore. If India qualifies for the final, it will be held in Dubai; otherwise, the title clash will take place in Lahore.

Pakistan has previously reached the Champions Trophy semi-finals three times—in 2000, 2004, and 2009.

Captain Rizwan’s Views on the Tournament

Pakistan’s captain Mohammad Rizwan expressed pride in hosting an ICC event after 29 years, stating:

“The entire nation is celebrating this historic occasion. We’ve worked hard and learned from our mistakes. Our sole focus is on winning the tournament for our country and people, and we hope to achieve the desired results.”

Security Measures for the Champions Trophy

To ensure tight security, the Punjab Police has deployed over 12,000 officers in Lahore and Rawalpindi.

• In Lahore, more than 8,000 personnel will be on duty, including:
  • 12 senior officers, 39 DSPs, 86 inspectors, and 700 upper subordinates
  • 6,673 constables and 129 female officers
• In Rawalpindi, over 5,000 officers will be assigned, including:
  • 6 senior officers, 15 DSPs, 50 inspectors, and 500 upper subordinates
  • 4,000 constables and 100 female officers

Pakistan’s Squad for the Champions Trophy

Mohammad Rizwan (captain & wicketkeeper), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Tayyab Tahir, and Usman Khan.