India vs Pakistan: Lahore to host ICC Champions Trophy clash; PCB seeks BCCI approval

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will headline India’s blockbuster encounter with Pakistan in the 2025 edition of the ICC Champions Trophy. The batting icons are bidding farewell to the T20I format after leading India to World Cup glory in the 2024 edition of the ICC event. Although Kohli and Rohit have announced their retirement from T20I, the batting stalwarts will still be seen in the traditional formats of the game. Kohli and Rohit could make their white-ball comebacks for an ICC tournament in the 2025 Champions Trophy, hosted by Pakistan.

In the latest developments, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has submitted their design for the ICC Champions Trophy. By scheduling the high-voltage match between India and Pakistan in the first week of March, the PCB has given the hosting rights to Lahore. The big Champions Trophy match between arch-rivals India and Pakistan can be held in Lahore on March 1 next year.

Pakistan will host the ICC event from February 19 to March 9. March 10 is a reserve day for the final of the ICC event. According to a report by news agency PTI, a senior ICC board member revealed that the PCB is yet to get approval from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for its tentative schedule.

“The PCB has submitted the design of the 15-match ICC Champions Trophy. Seven matches in Lahore, three in Karachi and five in Rawalpindi,” an ICC board member said. “The opening match will be held in Karachi with two semi-finals in Karachi and Rawalpindi, the final in Lahore. All Indian matches (including semi-finals, if the team qualifies) in Lahore,” the source added.