Champions Trophy: Tentative schedule revealed

LAHORE: A tentative schedule for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, which reveals the match-ups and the venues each game takes place in, was revealed on social media by RevSportz, an Indian news outlet, on Saturday.

POSSIBLE GROUP A MATCHES

According to the schedule posted by RevSportz, one of the two groups will include Pakistan, New Zealand, Bangladesh, and India.

India’s first match will take place on February 20, and will see the men in blue face off against Bangladesh. Their second match will be against Pakistan and will take place on February 23 and their last group stage match against New Zealand will take place on March 2.

The tentative schedule also states that the first match of the tournament will be Pakistan vs New Zealand, which will take place on February 19. After Pakistan’s second match against India on the 23rd, they will play their final group stage match against Bangladesh on February 27.

New Zealand, who play Pakistan on the February 19 and India on March 2, will play Bangladesh on February 24.

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GROUP B POSSIBLE MATCHES

If the schedule is correct, the other group will include Australia, South Africa, Afghanistan, and England.

The first match of the second group will take place on February 21, and will feature Afghanistan taking on South Africa. Afghanistan will play their two other matches against England and Australia on February 26 and February 28 respectively.

After playing Afghanistan on February 21, South Africa will play Australia and England on February 25 and March 1 respectively.

Australia will play their first match against England on February 22.

KNOCKOUT GAMES AND TIMINGS

According to the tentative schedule released by RevSportz, the two semi-finals will take place on March 4 and March 5, at a neutral venue. The final will also take place at a neutral venue on March 9.

The group stage matches, and the three knockout games, will all start at 2 PM PST according to the schedule.

VENUE

India’s matches for the group stages for the Champions Trophy will occur at a neutral venue, with sources stating that Dubai and Colombo are being considered as possible locations.

Three matches will be played in Karachi according to the tentative schedule, including the opener between Pakistan and New Zealand, Afghanistan vs South Africa, and the last group stage match between South Africa and England.

Lahore’s three matches include Australia vs England, Afghanistan vs England, and Afghanistan vs Australia.

The schedule also has three matches taking place in Rawalpindi, including Bangladesh vs New Zealand, Australia vs South Africa, and Pakistan vs Bangladesh.

Earlier media reports suggested that the neutral location could supplant the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, due to its lack of spider cameras, a necessity for the venue to meet the standards for the Champions Trophy. Sources also claimed that the ICC had said having four venues would incur high costs, including an increased budget for camera installation, hotel accommodations, travel, and branding.

While the ICC would prefer to keep the venues at a maximum of three, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is reportedly keen on hosting matches in the previously announced three stadiums.

Champions Trophy: Latest updates to venues and schedule