When is the India vs Pakistan match in the 2025 Champions Trophy?

As the schedule for the 2025 ICC Men's Champions Trophy was announced on December 24, all eyes turned to the date for the high-octane India-Pakistan contest. The tournament will be played between February 19 and March 9 in Pakistan and UAE.

India and Pakistan, part of Group A of the eight-team competition, will face off at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on February 23. It will be the second group-stage outing for both sides.

The two teams and their respective boards have been dominating the headlines over the past few months regarding the scheduling of the tournament. However, they arrived at a consensus, with India set to play their matches in Dubai, while the rest of the matches will be split between Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi.

While Group A consists of Bangladesh and New Zealand apart from India and Pakistan, Group B features South Africa, Australia, England, and Afghanistan. The participants were decided based on the 2023 ODI World Cup standings, meaning Sri Lanka failed to qualify for the Champions Trophy due to not finishing in the top eight.

Pakistan and New Zealand will play the opening game of the tournament in Karachi on February 19. India will begin their Champions Trophy campaign against Bangladesh in Dubai on February 20.

The two semi-finals will be played on March 4 and 5, with Dubai and Lahore hosting the matches based on where India and Pakistan finish in the group-stage standings and if the two teams qualify for the final four.

The grand finale will be played in Lahore on March 9, with the venue changing to Dubai should India qualify for the summit clash.

"This Champions Trophy is truly poised to be an unmissable celebration of the world cricket’s finest" - Jay Shah

ICC Chair Inaugural Event - Source: Getty

ICC chairman Jay Shah was delighted with the return of the Champions Trophy after an eight-year hiatus.

The tournament was last played in 2017, with Pakistan defeating India in the final at the Oval.

Speaking to the ICC, Jay Shah said:

"The ICC is delighted to release the schedule for the Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, marking the tournament's much-anticipated return since 2017. The thrilling competition, in which eight teams battle it out to claim the iconic white jackets, will provide fans with 15 matches of unmissable entertainment. This Champions Trophy is truly poised to be an unmissable celebration of the world cricket’s finest."

He added:

"This edition will take place in Pakistan and the UAE, and with Dubai also serving as the home of the ICC headquarters, it represents an opportunity to showcase the best of cricket with heritage and modernity."

While the title in 2017 was Pakistan's first in the Champions Trophy, India were winners in 2013 and joint-winners in 2002.

Australia won the trophy twice in 2006 and 2009, while the West Indies, South Africa, New Zealand and Sri Lanka (joint-winners with India) have each won the title once.