The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy has kicked off, drawing in the interest of over 2.5 billion cricket fans from around the world. This year, the long-sought trophy is being staged by Pakistan for the first time in 29 years. As usual, the tournament involves the world's best cricket-playing nations. The teams competing are the top seven teams from the 2023 Cricket World Cup, as well as the host country, Pakistan.

Some of cricket's biggest stars are playing center stage, such as Rohit Sharma, Mohammed Rizwan, Shubman Gill, Jos Buttler, and Jofra Archer. This year's version is especially significant since it's the only limited-overs ICC tournament scheduled for 2025.

Tournament Format & Schedule

The tournament began on February 17 and runs through March 9. The eight teams are divided into two groups:

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

Each team plays each other once in their respective groups. The top two teams from each group move on to the semifinals. Group A is very competitive with India, Pakistan, and New Zealand all being in the top 4 of ICC ODI rankings, while Bangladesh has an uphill task from 9th position.

The first match saw host Pakistan lose to New Zealand by 60 runs. The group stage concludes on March 2 with India vs New Zealand. Semifinals will be held on March 4 and March 5, and the final is set for March 9.

Unique Venue Arrangement

While the majority of matches are hosted in Pakistan, a hybrid model is in place. All of India's group matches, one semifinal, and possibly the final will be held in Dubai, due to political sensitivities. If India reaches the final, it will be played in Dubai instead of Lahore.

Key Venues:

• Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore: Main venue, capacity 34,000
• National Stadium, Karachi: Built in 1995, capacity 30,000
• Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium: Smallest venue, 18,000 seats
• Dubai International Cricket Stadium: Hosts India’s matches, modern “ring of fire” lighting adds to the excitement

Prize Pool

This year, the total prize money is USD 6.9 million, 53% higher than the previous edition. The champions will earn USD 2.24 million, and the runners-up will get USD 1.2 million. Semifinalists receive USD 560,000, while the last two teams receive USD 140,000 each.

Star Players to Watch

• Babar Azam (Pakistan): An experienced player with 122 ODI innings, whose class and consistency are well-known.
• Shubman Gill (India): One of the up-and-coming stars, with 15 fifties and 7 centuries, who is likely to head India's next-generation batting.
• Jos Buttler (England): The seasoned captain and explosive batsman, with 11 centuries and 27 fifties in ODIs.

FAQs

Q. Which teams are competing?
Ans: India, Pakistan, New Zealand, Bangladesh, South Africa, England, Australia, and Afghanistan.

Q. When does the group stage end?
Ans: March 2, with India vs New Zealand.

Q. Are all matches in Pakistan?
Ans: No. Matches involving India, including the final (if they qualify), are held in Dubai.