The ICC Champions Trophy is making its long-awaited return for the first time since 2017, with the prestigious cricket tournament beginning on February 19, and hosts Pakistan taking on New Zealand at Karachi’s National Stadium. The much-anticipated India-Pakistan clash will be on February 23, and the two-time champions, the Men in Blue, will be looking to avenge their 180-run loss to Pakistan in the 2017 Champions Trophy final. The selection process for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy was based on the 2023 Cricket World Cup standings, with Afghanistan making history by qualifying for the first time after an impressive World Cup campaign, where they defeated England, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

The Champions Trophy format has remained unchanged since 2006, with the eight teams divided into two groups of four, each playing against the others in its group once. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, with the winners facing off in the final. The two groups at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 are: Group A, consisting of Bangladesh, India, New Zealand, and Pakistan, and Group B, consisting of Afghanistan, Australia, England, and South Africa. The teams will be competing for a grand prize of $2.24 million, with the runners-up earning $1.12 million, and each semi-finalist receiving $560,000, and the total prize pool has seen a significant increase from the 2017 edition, reaching an impressive $6.9 million.

The prize money for the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy increased by $500,000 from the 2013 edition, reaching a total of $4.5 million, with the champion team receiving $2.2 million, and the runner-up being awarded $1.1 million. The two semi-finalists took home $450,000 each. The 2025 edition will see a significant increase in the prize money, with the champion team receiving $2.24 million, and the runner-up receiving $1.12 million. The prize pool has been increased to $6.9 million, a 53% increase from the 2017 edition, and the teams will be competing for the top spot, with the winner taking home the grand prize of $2.24 million.

Some of the key features of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 include: * A total of 8 teams competing in the tournament * The teams are divided into two groups of four, with each team playing against the others in its group once * The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, with the winners facing off in the final * A grand prize of $2.24 million, with the runners-up earning $1.12 million, and each semi-finalist receiving $560,000 * A total prize pool of $6.9 million, a 53% increase from the 2017 edition * The tournament will be played in February 2025, with the final match scheduled to be played on March 1, 2025. The tournament will feature some of the best teams in the world, competing for the top spot, and the winner will be crowned the champion of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be a highly competitive tournament, with some of the best teams in the world competing for the top spot. The teams will be looking to win the grand prize of $2.24 million, and the total prize pool of $6.9 million, and the tournament will be played in February 2025, with the final match scheduled to be played on March 1, 2025. The fans will be eagerly waiting to see which team will emerge as the champion of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, and the tournament is expected to be a highly exciting and competitive one, with some of the best cricket players in the world competing for the top spot.