India beat Pakistan in T20 World Cup by 6 runs©AFP
The euphoria of the clash between India and Pakistan at the T20 World Cup in New York is not even over yet, and the report on the schedule of the two teams in the 2025 Champions Trophy has already been released. India and Pakistan, without a doubt the two most followed across the global cricket spectrum, are scheduled to face each other in the 2025 Champions Trophy in Lahore. The draft tournament calendar has been sent to the International Cricket Council, suggesting that the 50-over event will be held between February 19 and March 9.
According to Cricbuzz, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has already finalized its draft schedule and sent it to the ICC for approval. The schedule calls for India to travel to Lahore, Pakistan for the match. But India’s trip to Pakistan for the main clash is not a certainty. The only condition that can make Rohit Sharma cross the border is to get approval from the Indian government.
The PCB had reportedly suggested the names of Karachi and Rawalpindi as venues for the 20-day event, while Lahore was retained as the sole hub for India’s games. A total of seven matches will be scheduled in Lahore, five in Rawalpindi and three in Karachi.
The opening game of the event will be held on February 19, a Wednesday, in Karachi, while the two semi-finals will be in Karachi and Rawalpindi. The 2025 Champions Trophy final is scheduled for March 9, a Sunday, in Lahore. If India qualifies for the semi-final, the game will also be played in Lahore.
Although the PCB has done everything it can to ensure that the Champions Trophy is held in Pakistan, the BCCI is yet to agree on the proposed venues. Currently, neither the PCB nor the ICC have planned a conversion to the hybrid model, which was used during the 2023 Asian Cup.
BCI needs permission from the Government of India to travel to Pakistan. With relations between the two countries still acrimonious, it seems unlikely that the Indian council will receive approval, at least considering the current situation.
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