The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday finally announced the Champions Trophy 2025 schedule after much delay. The elite tournament, that is being hosted in a hybrid model, will start with a match between Pakistan and New Zealand in Karachi on February 19. The final will be played on March 9. India will play its first match of the Champions Trophy on February 20 in Dubai. India will play all its matches in Dubai.

The eight competing teams have been divided in two groups. Group A has Pakistan, India, New Zealand, Bangladesh while Group B consists South Africa, Australia, Afghanistan, England. India will play Pakistan in Dubai on February 23.

The eight-team tournament will feature 15 matches, and will be played across Pakistan and Dubai, the ICC said. 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.

Groups:

Group A – Pakistan, India, New Zealand, Bangladesh

Group B – South Africa, Australia, Afghanistan, England

Champions Trophy Schedule:

19 February, Pakistan v New Zealand, Karachi, Pakistan

20 February, Bangladesh v India, Dubai

21 February, Afghanistan v South Africa, Karachi, Pakistan

22 February, Australia v England, Lahore, Pakistan

23 February, Pakistan v India, Dubai

24 February, Bangladesh v New Zealand, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

25 February, Australia v South Africa, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

26 February, Afghanistan v England, Lahore, Pakistan

27 February, Pakistan v Bangladesh, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

28 February, Afghanistan v Australia, Lahore, Pakistan

1 March, South Africa v England, Karachi, Pakistan

2 March, New Zealand v India, Dubai

4 March, Semi-final 1, Dubai

5 March, Semi-final 2, Lahore, Pakistan

9 March, Final, Lahore (unless India qualify, when it will be played in Dubai)

10 March, Reserve day

*All matches will be day-night encounters

Manu Bhaker, double Olympic medallist , is in news after reports claimed the champion shooter’s name was missing from the list of nominated athletes for the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. The Khel Ratna is awarded to athletes with exceptional performances. With Manu’s name missing, despite being the first Indian athlete since independence to win two Olympic medals in a single edition of the Games, the Sports Ministry came under scrutiny. However, Manu Bhaker has now said that there might have been a lapse on her part and that ‘it is being corrected.’ 

“With regards to ongoing issue for my nomination for the most prestigious Khel Ratna award-I would like to state that as an athlete my role is to play and perform for my country. Awards and recognition keeps me motivated but are not my goal. I believe there has been a lapse, maybe on my part while filing for the nomination which is being corrected. Irrespective of the award I shall remain motivated to win more medals for my country. It is a request to everyone, please do not speculate on this matter,” Manu Bhaker wrote in a post on X.

pic.twitter.com/MPvf7uKJKM

— Manu Bhaker🇮🇳 (@realmanubhaker) December 24, 2024

Meanwhile, double Olympic medallist shooter Manu Bhaker’s coach Jaspal Rana has castigated the Sports Ministry, Sports Authority of India and the National Rifle Association of India, holding them responsible for “ignoring” his ward’s credentials for the Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award.

“I will hold all of them responsible. How can anyone even say Manu did not apply? She made history by becoming the first Indian to win two Olympic medals in the same Olympics. Her name should have been there automatically. Don’t the people at the helm know who Manu Bhaker is and what are her credentials? This humiliation might just affect her progress,” Rana told PTI Videos in an interview.

The national coach felt the “new requirement” where sportspersons have to apply directly for the awards was not in the best interest of sports, and was a bit demeaning.

The ministry norms allow athletes to self-nominate instead of relying on the federations and other institutions for it. The selection committee is, however, allowed to consider names which may not be among the applicants.

While the ministry claimed that Bhaker did not apply for the award, her father Ram Kishan Bhaker, a chief engineer in Merchant Navy, said the youngster had followed the due process.

With PTI inputs 

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