England previously faced Afghanistan at the 50-overs Cricket World Cup in 2023, as well as at the Twenty20 World Cup in 2022.
Australia will be without their premier pacers but their envious pedigree in ICC tournaments make them favourites to progress to the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy from Group B.
Security was breached again in Lahore, where another pitch invader ran onto the field during Afghanistan's post-match celebrations.
India's only representative in the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires, Nitin Menon, has opted out of officiating in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan this month due to personal reasons.
The ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan has seen a decline in attendance following the early exit of the Pakistani cricket team and the start of Ramadan.
Pakistan on Thursday said that no back channel diplomacy was going on with India after the neighbouring country refused to send its cricket team for the Champions Trophy
The ICC Champions Trophy is finally set to kick-off. The tournament, originally scheduled to be held in Pakistan last year, was forced out of the country because of security concerns and will now be staged in South Africa, from September 22 to October 5.
The winners of the ICC Champions Trophy, commencing on June 6, will pocket a prize money of USD 2 million while the runners-up will be richer by USD 1 million.
According to a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official, the trophy tour would begin from Skardu in northern Pakistan.
Captain Temba Bavuma hailed what he termed South Africa's brave decision to bat first in their comprehensive 107-run Champions Trophy win over Afghanistan on Friday
While India are on a high after a measured six-wicket win over a sprightly Bangladesh, Pakistan are evidently tense after the 60-run loss in the tournament-opener to New Zealand.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has restricted the entry and movement of the mainstream and digital media at its stadiums in Karachi and Lahore, which are under construction ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy.
Chances of India travelling to Pakistan for Champions Trophy are slim: ex-PCB chief
A staggering 12,000 police officers and personnel will be deployed in Lahore and Rawalpindi during the matches.
The BCCI has not yet confirmed India's participation in the Champions Trophy, which is slated to be held in Pakistan in February-March.
Champions Trophy headlines Pakistan's home season but India uncertainty remains
The Champions Trophy is the first major ICC event scheduled in Pakistan, since jointly hosting the 1996 World Cup with India and Sri Lanka.
The PCB asserted that the presence of ICC delegation, including broadcast, hospitality and event operations officials in the country, was an affirmation that the event is on schedule in Pakistan.
The BCCI is yet to give its consent to the tentative schedule for the ICC Champions Trophy next year.
World Cup holders India and South Africa will clash in the opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy, 50-over contest, at Cardiff in Wales on June 6, 2013, tournament hosts the England and Wales Cricket Board announced on Tuesday.
New Zealand beat a vastly different South Africa team by six wickets in Lahore three weeks ago, two days after beating Pakistan at the same venue.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said the Champions Trophy would be held entirely in Pakistan.
Young Pakistan opener Saim Ayub has been ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy after sustaining an ankle injury in South Africa in January.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced ticket prices for the upcoming Champions Trophy, with the lowest priced ticket starting at PKR 1000 for the General Enclosure for all matches in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi.
The Pakistan cricket board (PCB) will not stage matches of the 2025 Champions Trophy outside the country if India do not travel for the tournament, chairman Mohsin Naqvi said.
South Africa crushed England by seven wickets in their final group match to storm into the semi-finals of the ICC Champions Trophy.
The PCB is upgrading the facilities at all three venues in the country as Pakistan prepares to host an ICC tournament for the first time since 1996, when they co-hosted the ODI World Cup.
The BCCI decided against playing practice games as India is already participating in a three-match ODI series against England.
As the Champions Trophy kicks off, some memorable moments from past tournaments.
Jasprit Bumrah, who is down with swelling in his back, is expected to make a full recovery by the first week of March.
The tournament is scheduled to be held in Pakistan, and Rizwan expressed confidence in the enthusiastic reception the Indian team would receive from Pakistani fans.
'It's the game of cricket. You're going to miss out, you're going to drop a catch -- you've got to get on with what's in front of you.'
Top seven teams at ODI World Cup 2023 will qualify for 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, as per ICC's new rules
India began their Champions Trophy campaign with a six-wicket victory against Bangladesh after opener Shubman Gill anchored their nervy chase with a classy hundred.
New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner acknowledged the challenge posed by India's understanding of the conditions in the Champions Trophy final, but expressed confidence in his team's ability to adapt. Santner believes the experience of playing against India in a league match will help, and is hoping his batters will be better prepared to face mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy this time around.
The Vidarbha batter boasts an incredible average of 752 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, with five centuries from seven games.
The ticket sales for India's Champions Trophy matches to be played in Dubai will begin on Monday evening.
The source said that the PCB is expecting to get some sort of viable answer from the BCCI officials at the upcoming meeting on the progress they have made (if any) on seeking clearance from their government to send their team to Pakistan early next year for the tournament.
Former Australia pacer Jason Gillespie and ex-Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi criticise the ICC for double standards after Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland in the T20 World Cup over security concerns.
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