Last Updated on 3 weeks by Charbel Coorey
Disclaimer: This article includes a sponsored link to a third party website. CricBlog has received compensation in the form of a fee.
2025 signals a fresh start for many individuals around the world with new year resolutions commonly put into action at this time of the year. For the cricket world however, the action simply continues. After a raft of scintillating cricket played over the festive period predominantly in Australia and South Africa, the eyes of those in the cricketing world quickly turn to another action-packed 2025 schedule. There is lots of cricket to come throughout the year in all corners of the world and in all formats and here are a few highlights to keep an eye out for.
A look at the ICC tournaments for 2025
ICC Champions Trophy 2025
It has been a lengthy eight years since the last ICC Champions Trophy took place in England in 2017. Back then, Pakistan secured a magnificent 180-run victory over arch-rivals India to lift the trophy and have remained reigning champions for a near decade after the 2021 edition of the ICC Champions Trophy was scrapped to make way for a T20 World Cup.
While the much-awaited return of the tournament in February is already causing excitement amongst cricket fanbases worldwide, there has been a bit of needle and contention surrounding the tournament taking place in Pakistan. Due to political tensions between India and Pakistan, the Indian government informed the ICC that their team will not travel to Pakistan to play matches.
As a result, the United Arab Emirates has been added as a host for the tournament. The Dubai International Cricket Stadium will act as a neutral venue for India’s matches, including their group stage match against Pakistan on 23rd February. Despite the controversial shadow cast on the tournament, many are expecting hard-fought and big scoring matches from all the eight nations involved. Whether we will have another blockbuster Pakistan versus India final again remains to be seen.
- Group A: Bangladesh, India, New Zealand, Pakistan
- Group B: Afghanistan, Australia, England, South Africa
World Test Championship Final
The teams for the WTC final have been decided. Australia will take on South Africa in a one-off test match at Lords for the right to be named the best Test nation in the world. Although there is some conjecture as to how South Africa got to the final, with no regular rotation of Test matches between each nation organised by the ICC, these two nations will face off over five days (with a reserve day) starting on 11th June.
Australia secured their place in the event by lifting the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in ten years after defeating India 3-1 in a pulsating Test series in Australia. South Africa followed suit over the festive period, beating Pakistan 2-0 in a two-match Test series, with a nail-biting two-wicket win in the Boxing Day Test ultimately putting one foot in the WTC final door.
The contention however arises from the way Test matches are scheduled and how certain matchups contribute to the overall table. South Africa finished top of the league table, despite only playing 12 tests compared to the 17 Australia played and the whopping 22 contested by England, who finished in 6th position.
While marketing and economic factors play a huge role in determining which Test matches are scheduled, with India consistently bringing huge value and appeal from their fervent fanbase, South Africa reached the final without having to face Australia or England, also facing India (1-1), Pakistan (2-0), and Sri Lanka (2-0) on home soil.
There is no blame attributed to South Africa of course, if any blame can be placed at all. South Africa are still worthy opponents for Australia who themselves are coming up to a transition period. With months to go until the WTC final, those partaking in cricket betting online will be keeping an eye on the form of both teams and certain individuals in particular to see if they can keep themselves fit and amongst the runs and wickets ahead of June.
Women’s Cricket World Cup
In the women’s game, the next edition of the World Cup will take place between August and September 2025. The 13th edition of the tournament will be played in India, with similar neutral venue arrangements to the ICC Champions Trophy to be put in place in the event of Pakistan qualifying for the tournament. Pakistan missed out on a direct passage and will have to go through qualification to make the main event.
Australia will be looking to retain the trophy they won in 2022 when Meg Lanning’s side defeated England by a convincing 71 runs in Christchurch to secure their seventh World Cup success. In the history of the competition, only Australia (7), England (4), and New Zealand (1) have lifted the trophy. However, India Women will be looking to make home advantage and conditions count to win their first WWC trophy.
Disclaimer: This article includes a sponsored link to a third party website. CricBlog has received compensation in the form of a fee.
