ICC unveils Champions Trophy schedule

KABUL (Pajhwok): The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced Champions Trophy fixtures, which will take place from February 19 to March 9 in Pakistan and the UAE.

The 15-match, eight-team event returns to the cricket calendar for the first time since the last edition was staged in 2017, with defending champions Pakistan hosting their first global cricket tournament since 1996, alongside the UAE which was confirmed as the neutral venue.

According to ICC, the 19-day competition will see Bangladesh, India, New Zealand and Pakistan placed in Group A with Afghanistan, Australia, England and South Africa in Group B.

The Champions Trophy begins with hosts Pakistan facing New Zealand on 19 February - the opening day of the event - in Karachi.

Other key match-ups include Bangladesh taking on India on the second day of the competition in Dubai and Afghanistan facing South Africa on 21 February in Karachi.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) said according to the ICC schedule Afghanistan will play their first match on February 21 against South Africa in Karachi.

Afghanistan's second match will be against England on February 26, followed by their third outing against New Zealand on February 28.

sa/mud