ICC is yet to make an official statement on India Traveling to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025. But it is preparing an alternate plan and has allocated $65M for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 in case of partial relocation.
ICC Approval Of $65M In Annual General Meeting For CT 2025
CricBuzz reported that the ICC approved a budget of $65M in its Annual General Meeting in Colombo. The budget includes a contingency budget in case India decides not to play in Pakistan and a few games are played outside Pakistan.
Cricbuzz reported on July 10 that the Champions Trophy 2025 tentative schedule is from February 19 to March 9. The reports say that India’s participation in CT 2025 is doubtful but the issue has not been yet discussed at any forum of the ICC. That’s why a contingency budget has been put in place.
The Chief Executives Committee (CEC) released a statement that “PCB has signed Host Agreement and has worked with management to draft an event budget which is submitted to F&CA for approval. Management has also approved an estimate of the increase in the cost of staging the event if it is necessary to play some matches outside Pakistan.”
The ICC is working out all the modalities however it has not been discussed what will be the venues if some games are played outside Pakistan.
The CEC added “A planning meeting and inspection of proposed match venues took place in Pakistan in March 2024. A significant amount of renovation work is underway in all three venues to upgrade facilities.”
Lahore Karachi And Lahore As Host Venues
Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi are the proposed venues for the tournament. The PCB is already working on the renovation of the three venues.
Budget Of The Champions Trophy 2025
As far as the budget is concerned, roughly $35 million is allocated for the tournament with an additional $20M earmarked for participation and Prize money.
Besides, $10 million has been allocated to production costs for televising the tournament which will comprise of 15 matches and spanned over 20 days.
Cricbuzz reported that the budget was finalised after Ankur Khanna, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the ICC deliberated with Javed Murtaza (CFO) of the PCB, for three days in Lahore, Pakistan.
Numerous report circulating in cricket fraternity believes that PCB has shared a draft schedule of the tournament with ICC, broadcasters, and participating teams.
The schedule suits all the stakeholders. All of India’s matches will be held in Lahore with the most anticipated Pak-India match scheduled for Saturday, March 1st.
Teams are divided into two groups. Group A consists of Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and New Zealand. The Group B includes Australia, England, Afghanistan, and South Africa.
India plays against Bangladesh on 20th February and against New Zealand on 23rd Feb. The tournament opening match will be Pakistan taking on New Zealand on February 19 in Karachi.
The first semi-final will be played on March 5 in Karachi and the second semi-final will be played in Rawalpindi on March 6. Lahore is the venue for the final to be played on March 9.
The venues are not final yet and are subject to change depending on the Government of India’s decision to send its team to Pakistan or otherwise. In August a team from the ICC is set to visit Pakistan for a final inspection of the three venues.
Cricbuzz also revealed that warm-up matches will be played from Feb 12 to 18 designated as ‘support period’. The teams will compete in warm-up matches and engage with the media as per protocols. March 10 will be reserve day. Last time the champions trophy was played in 2017 in England with Pakistan defeating India in the final.
Draft Schedule For Champions Trophy 2025
| Match No | Team | Date |
| Match 1 | NZ v PAK | February 19 |
| Match 2 | BAN v IND | February 20 |
| Match 3 | AFG v SA | February 21 |
| Match 4 | AUS v ENG | February |
| Match 5 | NZ v IND | February 23 |
| Match 6 | PAK v BAN | February 24 |
| Match 7 | AFG v ENG | February 25 |
| Match 8 | AUS v SA | February 26 |
| Match 9 | BAN v NZ | February 27 |
| Match 10 | AFG v AUS | February 28 |
| Match 11 | PAK v IND | March 1 |
| Match 12 | SA v ENG | March 2 |
| Match 13 | Semi-final 1 | March 5 |
| Match 14 | Semi-final 2 | March 6 |
| Match 15 | Final | March 9 |
| Final (Reserve Day) | March 10 |
Tri-Series In Pakistan Ahead Of CT 2025
A Tri-Series is set to be held in Pakistan just before the Champions Trophy 2025. All the matches of the Tri-series will be held in Multan. The matches are scheduled between Feb 8 to Feb 14. Pakistan, New Zealand, and South Africa Will be the participating teams.
Draft Schedule Of The Tri-Series 2025
| Match No | Team | Date |
| Match 1 | Pakistan v New Zealand | February 8 |
| Match 2 | New Zealand v South Africa | February 10 |
| Match 3 | Pakistan v South Africa | February 12 |
| Match 4 | Final | February 14 |
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