The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 kicked off on February 19, marking the much-awaited return of the prestigious tournament after a long hiatus since 2017. Hosted by defending champions Pakistan, the tournament is taking place in Pakistan and the UAE, with eight of the best ODI teams battling it out for supremacy. This marks the ninth edition of the Champions Trophy, and the excitement is palpable as the teams aim to secure the title last won by Pakistan.
Recent Matches: Updates from the First Two Games
As the tournament has already begun, let’s take a look at the opening matches:
- Pakistan vs New Zealand (February 19): New Zealand emerged victorious in the first match of the tournament, defeating Pakistan. The match was an exciting start to the competition and set the tone for what promises to be an action-packed tournament.
- India vs Bangladesh (February 20): India made a strong start to their campaign by winning their opening match against Bangladesh. The victory was crucial for India, especially as they look forward to their high-stakes encounter against Pakistan.
How to Watch the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE
Here’s everything you need to know about watching the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025:
- India: JioStar (Live streaming on Jio Hotstar, Television coverage on Star and Network 18 channels)
- Pakistan: PTV and Ten Sports, Streaming options: Myco and Tamasha app
- UAE and MENA: CricLife Max and CricLife Max2, Streaming option: STARZPLAY
- UK: Sky Sports Cricket, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Action, Digital coverage via SkyGO, NOW, and Sky Sports App
- USA and Canada: WillowTV, Streaming on Willow by Cricbuzz app (Hindi coverage available)
- Caribbean: ESPNCaribbean on TV, Streaming via ESPN Play Caribbean app
- Australia: PrimeVideo (coverage available in Hindi too)
- New Zealand: Sky Sport NZ, digital coverage via Now and SkyGo app.
- South Africa and sub-Saharan territories: SuperSport and SuperSport App
- Bangladesh: Nagorik TV and T Sports for linear broadcast, digital via Toffee app
- Afghanistan: ATN
- Sri Lanka: Maharaja TV (TV1 on Linear), Digital via Sirasa Click
For the full list of countries where the tournament will be streamed on ICC.tv, check the official website.
Qualification
The qualification process for the 2025 edition of the ICC Champions Trophy differed from previous editions. Unlike earlier tournaments where the top-eight ranked ODI sides were automatically included, the qualification for the 2025 edition was based on the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup standings. The top eight teams from that event secured their spots in the Champions Trophy, with hosts Pakistan automatically qualifying.
Groups
- Group A: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, New Zealand
- Group B: Australia, Afghanistan, England, South Africa
Squads
All squads for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 can be found on the official tournament website.
Debutants
After an impressive showing in the 2023 Cricket World Cup, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka earned their maiden qualification for the ICC Champions Trophy. Afghanistan, led by Hashmatullah Shahidi, has had an exciting rise in international cricket, reaching the semi-finals of the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Format
The tournament follows the same format as in previous editions, with eight teams split into two groups of four. Each team plays against every other team in their group once. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, with the winners of those matches meeting in the final.
Prize Money
The prize money for the 2025 edition is substantial, with a grand prize of $2.24 million (USD) for the champions. The runners-up will receive $1.12 million, while each losing semi-finalist will pocket $560,000. The total prize pool has increased by 53% from the 2017 edition, reaching a total of $6.9 million.
Key Dates
- February 19: The Champions Trophy officially began at the National Stadium in Karachi with the exciting match between Pakistan and New Zealand.
- February 20: India started their campaign in Dubai, defeating Bangladesh.
- February 21-22: The tournament continues with more thrilling fixtures.
- March 4-5: The semi-finals will take place in Dubai and Lahore, respectively.
- March 9: The grand final is scheduled for Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, unless India qualifies, in which case the final will be played in Dubai.
In the previous edition of the Champions Trophy (2017), Pakistan triumphed over India by a commanding 180-run margin to lift the trophy at The Oval in London, with Fakhar Zaman named Player of the Match and Hasan Ali earning the Player of the Tournament accolade.
With the tournament now in full swing, fans can look forward to a month of thrilling action, unforgettable moments, and intense rivalries!
