The Champions Trophy is going to start in February next year. The second highest ICC tournament will be held in Pakistan. This tournament will be organized for the ninth time in 2017. Meanwhile, the group format of this competition has been revealed.

This 19-day tournament will run from February 19 to March 9 next year. After 1996, only this event will return to Pakistan any mega event of ICC. The last time Pakistan won the Champions Trophy final was in 2017 by defeating India in the final at The Oval.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has already sent the draft schedule of the tournament to the ICC, multiple media reported.

India's participation is still apprehensive even after publishing the schedule. They last visited Pakistan in 2008. The bilateral series between the two countries is also closed since 2013. Pakistan hosted the Asia Cup last year.

But as India refused to go to Pakistan, all their matches were played in Sri Lanka. The Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) says that the matter of visiting Pakistan is in the hands of the Indian government.
According to British daily The Telegraph, the tournament will begin with the match between Pakistan and New Zealand. The match will be held at Karachi National Stadium. Bangladesh's first match will be the next day.

Nazmul Hussain Shanto's Champions Trophy mission will begin with a match against India in Lahore. All India matches will be played at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore due to security reasons.
Bangladesh's second match against Pakistan will be played on February 24 in Rawalpindi. Will have to return to Lahore again for the last match. On the 27th Shanto's last match of the group stage is against New Zealand. The match between India and Pakistan will be held on March 1.

Schedule:-

Date Match Venue
February 19 New Zealand vs Pakistan Karachi
20 February Bangladesh vs India Lahore
21 February Afghanistan vs South Africa Karachi
February 22 Australia vs England Lahore
February 23 New Zealand vs India Lahore
24 February Pakistan vs Bangladesh Rawalpindi
25th February Afghanistan vs England Lahore
February 26 Australia vs South Africa Rawalpindi
27 February Bangladesh vs New Zealand Lahore
28 February Afghanistan vs Australia Rawalpindi
1 March Pakistan vs India Lahore
March 2 South Africa vs England Rawalpindi
5 March 1st semi-final Karachi
6 March 2nd semi-final Rawalpindi
March 9 Final Lahore
Source - Daily Telegraph