IND vs PAK High-Voltage Clash on Feb 23: Champions Trophy 2025 Trends as India’s Matches Set to Be Played in Dubai
A highly anticipated match between India and Pakistan is set to take place on February 23 at the Dubai International Stadium in the UAE during the Champions Trophy.
According to a source from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Dubai in the UAE has been chosen as a neutral venue for hosting India’s matches in the Champions Trophy 2025. The decision was made following a meeting on Saturday night between PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and UAE Minister Sheikh Nahyan Al Mubarak.
The tournament’s opening match will be played on February 19 between hosts Pakistan and New Zealand in Karachi, while the final is scheduled for March 9 in Lahore. Team India will kick off their campaign against Bangladesh on February 20. If India qualifies for the knockout stage, both the semi-finals and the final will be held in Dubai.
India’s Champions Trophy Schedule: First Match on February 20
Team India will play its opening match of the Champions Trophy on February 20 against Bangladesh. The final group stage match is scheduled for March 2 against New Zealand.
The semi-finals, set to take place on March 4 and 5, will have reserved days, as will the tournament final.
Five Matches to Be Played in UAE, Rest in Pakistan
The Champions Trophy, featuring 15 matches among 8 teams, will kick off on February 19 and conclude on March 9. India will play all three of its group-stage matches in the UAE. If India qualifies, the semi-finals and final will also be held in the UAE, while the remaining 10 matches of the tournament will take place in Pakistan.
During an ICC meeting on December 19, it was decided that India’s matches in the Champions Trophy would be held at a neutral venue instead of Pakistan. Furthermore, the Pakistan team will not travel to India for any tournaments until 2027. Their matches will also be played at neutral venues.
Upcoming tournaments include the Women’s ODI World Cup in 2025, which will be hosted by India, and the T20 World Cup in 2026, jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
Pakistan’s ODI World Cup Visit to India
Last year, the Pakistan cricket team visited India to participate in the ODI World Cup. On October 14, a high-profile match between India and Pakistan was held in Ahmedabad. Team India secured a dominant 7-wicket victory in the match. Captain Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer scored impressive half-centuries, while Jasprit Bumrah, who claimed 2 wickets for just 19 runs, was named Player of the Match.
India’s Last Tour to Pakistan in 2008
Team India last toured Pakistan in 2008 for a 3-match Test series. India won the series 1-0, with the other two matches ending in a draw.
Pakistan’s Last Bilateral Series in India in 2013
Pakistan last visited India during the 2012-13 season for a bilateral series. The series featured 3 ODIs and 2 T20 matches. Pakistan won the ODI series 2-1, while the T20 series ended in a 1-1 draw.
India Avoids Touring Pakistan Post Mumbai Attacks
The Indian cricket team has not toured Pakistan since the 2007-08 season. Following the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, the Indian government decided against allowing the national team to play cricket in Pakistan. Since then, India and Pakistan have only faced each other in ICC and ACC tournaments.
From 2013 onwards, the two teams have played 13 ODIs and 8 T20 matches at neutral venues. Additionally, in 2009, a terrorist attack targeted the Sri Lankan cricket team during their tour of Pakistan, further affecting international cricket in the country.
2025 Champions Trophy Trends After Venue Announcement
On Saturday night, the neutral venue for the 2025 Champions Trophy was finalized, and the date for the much-anticipated India-Pakistan clash was also announced. This development caused the 2025 Champions Trophy to become a top trend on Google, reflecting the excitement among fans worldwide.
