Rawalpindi Stadium
As the countdown to the much-anticipated Champions Trophy 2025 continues, a high-level delegation from the International Cricket Council (ICC) visited Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday to review the venue’s preparations.
The inspection, which was crucial in ensuring that the stadium meets international standards, included ICC officials, broadcasters, and logistics personnel who conducted a detailed assessment of the venue.
Usman Wahla, the Director of International Cricket at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), led the briefing for the delegation. He provided an in-depth overview of the stadium’s facilities, highlighting areas such as enclosures, media boxes, dressing rooms, and other essential sections of the stadium.
The Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium is currently undergoing extensive upgrades, with plans to complete the enhancements this month, ensuring it is ready to host international cricket at its best.
The venue is slated to host three exciting matches during the Champions Trophy, which will be a landmark moment for Rawalpindi as it stages such a prestigious tournament.
This prestigious tournament, consisting of 15 matches, is scheduled to take place from February 19 to March 9, across three major venues in Pakistan: Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi, as well as in Dubai.
The day before the Rawalpindi visit, the ICC delegation had already conducted a thorough review of the National Bank Stadium in Karachi, another key venue for the event.
The tournament will feature eight teams, divided into two groups: Group A consists of Pakistan, India, New Zealand, and Bangladesh, while Group B includes Afghanistan, South Africa, England, and Australia.
The opening match will see host nation Pakistan face New Zealand on February 19 in Karachi. One of the most anticipated fixtures of the tournament will be the Pakistan-India clash scheduled for February 23 in Dubai.
The full Champions Trophy 2025 schedule is as follows:
- 19 February: Pakistan vs. New Zealand, Karachi, Pakistan
- 20 February: Bangladesh vs. India, Dubai
- 21 February: Afghanistan vs. South Africa, Karachi, Pakistan
- 22 February: Australia vs. England, Lahore, Pakistan
- 23 February: Pakistan vs. India, Dubai
- 24 February: Bangladesh vs. New Zealand, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
- 25 February: Australia vs. South Africa, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
- 26 February: Afghanistan vs. England, Lahore, Pakistan
- 27 February: Pakistan vs. Bangladesh, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
- 28 February: Afghanistan vs. Australia, Lahore, Pakistan
- 1 March: South Africa vs. England, Karachi, Pakistan
- 2 March: New Zealand vs. India, Dubai
- 4 March: Semi-final 1, Dubai
- 5 March: Semi-final 2, Lahore, Pakistan
- 9 March: Final, Lahore (if India qualifies, the final will be held in Dubai)
- 10 March: Reserve Day
All matches in the tournament will be day-night encounters, offering a thrilling cricket spectacle for fans around the world.
