Bangladesh have been pitted in Pool A along with New Zealand and sub-continent rivals India and Pakistan as the long-awaited groupings and fixtures of the 2025 Champions Trophy were announced by the International Cricket Council Tuesday.
Group B features Afghanistan and South Africa alongside Ashes rivals Australia and England.
In the tournament’s ninth edition set to take place over 19 days in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates in February-March, the Tigers will begin their campaign in Dubai against the Indians on February 20.
The men in red and green will then travel to Pakistan to take on the Kiwis and the hosts in Rawalpindi, slated for February 24 and 27 respectively.
Group B begins on February 21, with the Afghans squaring up against the Proteas in Karachi, said the ICC website.
A big weekend then kicks off with England and Australia set to clash in Lahore Saturday (February 22), with the much-anticipated Pakistan-India clash set for the day later.
The eight-team tournament will feature 15 matches.
In Pakistan, Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Karachi will be the three venues to host tournament play.
Each Pakistan venue will feature three group games apiece, with Lahore hosting the second semi-final. Lahore will also host the final on March 9, unless India qualify, in which case it will be played in Dubai.
Both the semi-finals and the final will have reserve days.
The three group matches involving India, as well as the first semi-final, will be played in Dubai.
The eight sides in the Champions Trophy competing for the famous white winners’ jackets are the teams that finished in the top eight positions on the points table of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.
Groups:
Pool A - Pakistan, India, New Zealand, Bangladesh
Pool B - South Africa, Australia, Afghanistan, England
Schedule:
February 19, Pakistan v New Zealand, Karachi, Pakistan
February 20, Bangladesh v India, Dubai
February 21, Afghanistan v South Africa, Karachi, Pakistan
February 22, Australia v England, Lahore, Pakistan
February 23, Pakistan v India, Dubai
February 24, Bangladesh v New Zealand, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
February 25, Australia v South Africa, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
February 26, Afghanistan v England, Lahore, Pakistan
February 27, Pakistan v Bangladesh, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
February 28, Afghanistan v Australia, Lahore, Pakistan
March 1, South Africa v England, Karachi, Pakistan
March 2, New Zealand v India, Dubai
March 4, Semi-final 1, Dubai
March 5, Semi-final 2, Lahore, Pakistan
March 9, Final, Lahore (unless India qualify, when it will be played in Dubai)
March 10, Reserve day
* All matches will be day-night encounters
