Army, Rangers to ensure foolproof security during Champions Trophy 2025

ISLAMABAD: As the cricket-loving nation braces for the mega event, ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the federal government has decided to deploy army and Rangers personnel to provide foolproof security during the matches. 

According to government sources, the approval for the deployment of Pakistan Army and Rangers has been obtained from the federal cabinet. The army and Rangers will be deployed under Article 245 of the Constitution and the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. 

The ICC Champions Trophy is set to begin on February 19 and continue till March 9.

For the unversed, hosts and defending champions Pakistan will kick off their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign at the newly revamped National Bank Stadium in Karachi during the curtain-raiser against New Zealand on February 19.

The national team will then travel to Dubai, where they will lock horns with arch-rivals India on February 23.

The Green Shirts will play their last group-stage fixture against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on February 27.

The eight-team tournament, comprising 15 matches, will run from February 19 to March 9, across three venues – Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi – in Pakistan and Dubai.

The eight teams are divided into two groups. Group A features Pakistan, India, New Zealand, and Bangladesh, while Group B is comprises Afghanistan, South Africa, England and Australia.

Pakistan will host a total of 10 matches, while four matches, including all three of India's group-stage matches and the first semi-final, will be played in Dubai.

The final of the tournament is scheduled to be played in Lahore but if India qualifies then it will also be held in Dubai.

Furthermore, a reserve day has also been allocated for the final clash as a precautionary measure to combat any weather-related hindrance.

Pakistan squad for upcoming tournaments

Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha (vc), Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025 Schedule

19 February: Pakistan v New Zealand, Karachi, Pakistan

20 February: Bangladesh v India, Dubai

21 February: Afghanistan v South Africa, Karachi, Pakistan

22 February: Australia v England, Lahore, Pakistan

23 February: Pakistan v India, Dubai

24 February: Bangladesh v New Zealand, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

25 February: Australia v South Africa, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

26 February: Afghanistan v England, Lahore, Pakistan

27 February: Pakistan v Bangladesh, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

28 February: Afghanistan v Australia, Lahore, Pakistan

1 March: South Africa v England, Karachi, Pakistan

2 March: New Zealand v India, Dubai

4 March: Semi-final 1, Dubai

5 March: Semi-final 2, Lahore, Pakistan

9 March: Final, Lahore (unless India qualify, else it will be played in Dubai)

10 March: Reserve day

*All matches will be day-night encounters