Bangladesh to take on India in opening match

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday announced the schedule of the ICC Champions Trophy, which will take place from 19 February to 9 March in Pakistan and the UAE.

Defending champions Pakistan wil host their first global cricket tournament since 1996, alongside the UAE as the neutral venue.

Bangladesh will open their campaign against India on February 20 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. They will then face New Zealand on February 24 and host Pakistan on February 27, both at Rawalpindi.

The 19-day tournament will feature two groups: Group A, which includes Bangladesh, India, New Zealand, and Pakistan, and Group B with Afghanistan, Australia, England, and South Africa. Matches will take place in Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi in Pakistan, while Dubai will host games in the UAE.

The highly anticipated clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan will take place on February 23rd in Dubai.

The semi-finals are scheduled for March 4 (Dubai) and March 5 (Lahore), with reserve days for both the matches, while the final match is scheduled for March 9. However, if India qualifies for the final, it will be played in Dubai.