Pakistan to Deploy Over 12,000 Officers for Champions Trophy 2025

Pakistan is gearing up to host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 with an extensive security plan, involving the deployment of over 12,000 officers to ensure the safety of players, officials, and fans. The Punjab Police will allocate 12,564 personnel across Lahore and Rawalpindi, key venues for the tournament. This includes 7,618 officers in Lahore and 4,535 in Rawalpindi, alongside 411 members of the Special Branch.

Additional support will come from the Pakistan Army and Rangers, with aerial monitoring and real-time surveillance via Safe City cameras to secure routes and venues. Participating players will receive state guest-level protection during the event.

The Champions Trophy will feature eight teams, with matches held in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Dubai from February 19 to March 9, 2025. The tournament opens with Pakistan facing New Zealand on February 19 in Karachi, while the much-anticipated Pakistan-India match will take place on February 23 in Dubai.

ICC Champions Trophy 2025

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is an international cricket tournament organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC), scheduled to take place from February 19 to March 9, 2025. It will be hosted by Pakistan, marking the first major ICC event in the country since the 1996 Cricket World Cup.

Key Details

Format: ODI (One-Day International)
Teams: 8 teams divided into two groups of four.
Matches: 15 matches in total, including group stage, semi-finals, and the final.

Participating Teams

Group A: Pakistan, India, New Zealand, Bangladesh
Group B: England, Australia, South Africa, Afghanistan

Host Cities

The matches will be held across:

Karachi
Lahore
Rawalpindi
Dubai (for some high-profile matches, including the Pakistan-India clash)

Security Arrangements

Pakistan is ensuring top-notch security for the event, with over 12,000 security personnel to be deployed across key venues. Players will receive state guest-level security, and all venues and routes will be monitored in real-time.

Schedule Highlights

Opening Match: Pakistan vs. New Zealand on February 19 in Karachi.
Pakistan vs. India Match: February 23 in Dubai.
Final Match: March 9, 2025.

Here is the table of participating teams for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025:

Group	Teams
A	Pakistan, India, New Zealand, Bangladesh
B	England, Australia, South Africa, Afghanistan

full match schedule:including the Pakistan-India

Here is the full match schedule for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, including the much-anticipated Pakistan-India clash:

Date	Match	Venue	Time (GMT)	Time (Local)
Group Stage
February 19	Pakistan vs. New Zealand	National Stadium, Karachi	09:00	14:00
February 20	Bangladesh vs. India	Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai	09:00	13:00
February 21	Afghanistan vs. South Africa	National Stadium, Karachi	09:00	14:00
February 22	Australia vs. England	Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore	09:00	14:00
February 23	Pakistan vs. India	Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai	09:00	13:00
February 24	Bangladesh vs. New Zealand	Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi	09:00	14:00
February 25	Australia vs. South Africa	Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi	09:00	14:00
February 26	Afghanistan vs. England	Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore	09:00	14:00
February 27	Pakistan vs. Bangladesh	Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi	09:00	14:00
February 28	Afghanistan vs. Australia	Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore	09:00	14:00
March 1	South Africa vs. England	National Stadium, Karachi	09:00	14:00
March 2	New Zealand vs. India	Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai	09:00	13:00
Semi-Finals
March 4	Semi-Final 1 (A1 vs. B2)	Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai	09:00	13:00
March 5	Semi-Final 2 (B1 vs. A2)	Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore	09:00	14:00
Final
March 9	Final	Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore*	09:00	14:30

Key Matches

Pakistan vs. India: February 23, 2025, in Dubai.
Opening Match: Pakistan vs. New Zealand on February 19, 2025, in Karachi.
Final: March 9, 2025, in Lahore. If India qualifies for the final, the venue may shift to Dubai.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed that the Indian cricket team’s jerseys for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will feature the official tournament logo, which includes a reference to Pakistan as the host nation. This decision aligns with the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) regulations requiring all participating teams to display the official tournament logo on their kits.

BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia addressed earlier reports suggesting India’s reluctance to include Pakistan’s name on their jerseys, clarifying that such claims were inaccurate. He emphasized that the BCCI is committed to adhering to ICC guidelines, stating, “We will follow whatever are the ICC guidelines.”

Despite the political tensions between India and Pakistan, the BCCI’s decision underscores a commitment to maintaining the integrity of the sport and respecting international cricket protocols. While India’s matches are scheduled to be played in Dubai due to security concerns, the inclusion of the host nation’s reference on the jersey signifies adherence to the global standards set by the ICC.

This move has sparked discussions among fans and analysts, with reactions ranging from support for upholding the spirit of cricket to criticism based on nationalistic sentiments. Nonetheless, the BCCI’s stance reflects a focus on sportsmanship and compliance with international regulations.

Champions Trophy history:

The ICC Champions Trophy, often referred to as the “Mini World Cup,” is one of cricket’s most prestigious international tournaments. It is organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and features the top cricketing nations in a shorter format, originally designed to be a quick, high-intensity alternative to the Cricket World Cup. Below is a detailed history of the tournament:

Inception

First Edition: 1998
Original Name: ICC KnockOut Tournament
Purpose: The tournament was initially conceived as a fundraising event for the ICC and was designed to promote cricket in non-traditional cricketing nations.

Key Facts

Format: One-Day Internationals (ODIs)
Teams: Traditionally features the top-ranked ICC ODI teams.
Frequency: Held approximately every four years.
Trophy: A silver-and-gold trophy awarded to the winners.

Tournament Editions

Year	Host Nation	Winner	Runner-Up	Final Result
1998	Bangladesh	South Africa	West Indies	South Africa won by 4 wickets.
2000	Kenya	New Zealand	India	New Zealand won by 4 wickets.
2002	Sri Lanka	India & Sri Lanka	No Result	Final ended in a rain-affected draw.
2004	England	West Indies	England	West Indies won by 2 wickets.
2006	India	Australia	West Indies	Australia won by 8 wickets.
2009	South Africa	Australia	New Zealand	Australia won by 6 wickets.
2013	England	India	England	India won by 5 runs.
2017	England	Pakistan	India	Pakistan won by 180 runs.
2025	Pakistan (Upcoming)	TBD	TBD	TBD

Notable Records

Most Titles: Australia (2 titles: 2006, 2009), India (2 titles: 2002 (shared) and 2013).
Unique Champions: South Africa (1998) and Pakistan (2017) have each won the tournament once.
Biggest Victory Margin in Finals: Pakistan’s 180-run win over India in 2017.

Evolution of the Tournament

1998–2002: Known as the ICC KnockOut Tournament; all matches were knockouts.
2004: Renamed the ICC Champions Trophy, with a group-stage format introduced.
2017: Marked the last edition before the tournament went on a hiatus. It returned in 2025.

2025 Champions Trophy

The upcoming tournament in 2025 will mark the return of the ICC Champions Trophy after an 8-year hiatus. Hosted by Pakistan, it promises high-stakes cricket among the top eight ODI teams.

The Champions Trophy continues to be cherished by cricket fans for its competitive nature, as it features only the best-performing teams, ensuring high-quality cricket throughout the tournament.