Pakistan is set to host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, marking its first major ICC event since co-hosting the 1996 World Cup with India and Sri Lanka. This tournament brings top cricketing nations to Pakistan after nearly three decades, though India will play its matches in the UAE under a hybrid model. Despite the neutral venue, the much-anticipated clash between India and Pakistan is expected to generate immense excitement.
International cricket in Pakistan suffered a major setback after the 2009 terrorist attack on Sri Lanka’s team in Lahore, leading to a prolonged absence of foreign teams due to security concerns. However, international cricket gradually returned, with Sri Lanka’s Test team touring Pakistan in 2019.
The Champions Trophy is an eight-team, limited-overs tournament that was last played in 2017, when Pakistan defeated India in the final in England. Originally launched in 1998 and held biennially, the tournament later shifted to a four-year cycle, positioned between World Cups. The teams for the 2025 edition qualified based on their rankings after the 2023 World Cup in India, with Pakistan automatically securing a spot as the host. Group A features Pakistan, India, New Zealand, and Bangladesh, while Group B includes England, South Africa, Australia, and Afghanistan.
Pakistan was initially set to host the 2008 Champions Trophy, but security concerns led to its relocation to South Africa in 2009. Similarly, India was slated to host the 2021 edition, but it was replaced by the T20 World Cup, which was held in the UAE.
