Who: Pakistan vs IndiaWhat: ICC Champions Trophy 2025Where: Dubai International Stadium, Dubai, United Arab EmiratesWhen: Sunday, February 23 at 1pm (09:00 GMT)Follow Al Jazeera‘s live text and photo commentary stream of the match.The host nation – and second favourites – Pakistan face the team tipped to win the tournament, India, at the Champions Trophy on Sunday in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The match is arguably the biggest fixture in world sport with the two rival nations drawing huge television audiences and general attention from all parts of the globe.
As ever, there is plenty at stake, beyond the fierce rivalry between the two cricketing giants and neighbouring countries, with Pakistan defeated by 60 runs in their opening match against New Zealand on Wednesday. India, conversely, opened with a six-wicket win against Bangladesh on Thursday.
Why are India not playing their matches in Pakistan?
All of India’s matches will be played in UAE instead of Pakistan, the host nation of the 2025 edition. The move came after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) reached an agreement with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Pakistan, that both nations would play all ICC events hosted in either country to be played at neutral venues until 2027.
India fans turned out in large numbers for their opening match at Dubai International Stadium [Satish Kumar/Reuters]
When was the last time Pakistan hosted a major tournament?
International cricket in Pakistan has been heavily restricted in recent years following the attack by gunmen on the Sri Lankan cricket team’s bus in Lahore in 2009, which wounded six players. Advertisement
Pakistan was shunned by top teams after the attack, and the Champions Trophy marks the first major global tournament to be hosted in the country in nearly 30 years. The last time Pakistan staged the global game was in 2006 for the Cricket World Cup, which they jointly hosted with India.
Why are defending champions Pakistan not the favourites?
Pakistan lifted the last edition of the Champions …
