England are Australia's first Champions Trophy opponents in Pakistan in February but Pat Cummins' team could end up playing the final in Dubai.

CHENNAI: Finally, the International Cricket Council on Tuesday announced the much-awaited schedule of the 2025 Champions Trophy. As was expected, India, who are clubbed with hosts Pakistan in Group A,

Pakistan will take on arch-rival India in the marquee group game of the 2025 Champions Trophy in Dubai on Feb. 23 after the ICC finally announced the schedule for the tournament.

The Champions Trophy will be held in Pakistan and Dubai, after hosts Pakistan selected the UAE as a neutral venue for their rivals India, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Tuesday. Holders Pakistan will host an ICC event for the first time in 28 years.

The wait for the official fixtures of the ICC 2025 Champions Trophy finally ended on Tuesday – with the marquee India versus Pakistan group league match scheduled in Dubai on Sunday, 23 February 2025. All three India’s group league matches will be held in Dubai as per the hybrid model agreed upon along with the first semi-final.

The tournament is set to begin on 19 February in Karachi and will run until 9 March. Bangladesh, placed in Group A, will kick off their campaign on 20 February against arch-rival India in Dubai.

Pakistan will face New Zealand in Karachi in the opening match on Feb 19; India will play all their matches in Dubai

Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi will be the three cities that will be holding the matches in Pakistan and Dubai will be have the matches in the UAE.

"Pakistan has chosen Dubai as the neutral venue for the Champions Trophy and it has been conveyed to the ICC officially, meaning India will play its matches there," a Pakistan Cricket Board spokesman said.