The ICC Champions Trophy 2025, hosted by Pakistan and UAE, recorded a staggering 368 billion global viewing minutes, marking a substantial 19 per cent increase from the previous edition held in England and Wales in 2017, Pakistan Cricket Board said while quoting a recent report released by ICC.
Pakistan claimed victory in the 2017 Champions Trophy, defeating long-time rivals India by a commanding 180-run margin in the final at The Oval. The recently concluded edition of the tournament featured eight teams and marked a significant milestone for Pakistan, as it was the country’s first ICC event hosted on home soil since 1996.
To prepare, Pakistan undertook major upgrades to its cricket infrastructure, including the rapid renovation of Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Matches were staged in Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi during the 2025 tournament, with Gaddafi Stadium hosting four fixtures, including a semi-final, while Karachi had the honor of hosting the opening match.
The final, played on March 9 in the UAE between India and New Zealand, became the most-watched Champions Trophy match ever, amassing 65.3 billion live viewing minutes worldwide—a 52.1% increase compared to the 2017 final.
Although Pakistan fell short of expectations on the field, domestic viewership rose by 24%. The tournament also set new records in Australia, where viewership jumped by 65% compared to the previous edition, making it the most-watched Champions Trophy in the country’s history.
