As the January 12 deadline approaches for submitting preliminary squads for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, teams are finalizing their preparations. The squads can be adjusted until February 11 without needing ICC approval, but after that date, any changes will require approval from the ICC Technical Committee. England has already announced its final squad, heightening anticipation for the tournament.
The Champions Trophy kicks off on February 19 in Karachi and will run until March 9. The tournament will feature eight teams and 15 matches, with Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi hosting 10 of those games, and Dubai staging four key fixtures, including all of India’s group-stage matches and the first semi-final.
The teams have been divided into two groups: Group A consists of Pakistan, India, New Zealand, and Bangladesh, while Group B includes Afghanistan, South Africa, England, and Australia. Pakistan’s campaign will begin with a match against New Zealand, followed by the highly anticipated Pakistan-India clash on February 23 in Dubai.
In addition to the Champions Trophy, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has finalized plans for the upcoming two-Test series against the West Indies. The final squads will be announced by Saturday evening, pending PCB chairman approval. As part of the strategy to build a strong team for the ICC Test Championship 2025-26, senior players will be rested during the Tests to give emerging talent like Azan Awais, Niaz Khan, and Musa Khan a chance to shine.
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PRESS UPDATE