Lahore, 23 May 2025 – The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has rewritten the record books, setting the global cricketing world ablaze with an eye-popping 368 billion viewing minutes, the ICC revealed in a sensational announcement this week.
Co-hosted by Pakistan and the UAE, the thrilling tournament witnessed a 19 per cent surge in global viewership compared to the 2017 edition in England and Wales.
The eight-team Champions showdown not only brought cricket back to Pakistan’s home turf for the first time since 1996, but also reignited the nation’s sporting passion. Despite Pakistan’s underwhelming performance, viewership within the host country skyrocketed by 24 per cent, proving the love for the game is stronger than ever.
Cricket fans were glued to their screens as the Champions Trophy unfolded across iconic Pakistani venues—Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi—with Gaddafi Stadium stealing the spotlight by hosting four high-voltage encounters, including a semi-final. Karachi proudly launched the tournament with a spectacular opener that set the tone for the drama to follow.
The climax, however, came on March 9, when India and New Zealand clashed in a blockbuster final at a packed stadium in the UAE. That match smashed all records, becoming the most-watched Champions Trophy match in history with an astonishing 65.3 billion live viewing minutes—a jaw-dropping 52.1 per cent jump over the 2017 final.
But the shockwaves weren’t limited to South Asia. Down under, cricket fever gripped Australia, where viewership for the Champions Trophy soared by a staggering 65 per cent, confirming the tournament’s expanding global influence.
In anticipation of the tournament, Pakistan poured resources into stadium overhauls, most notably completing the rapid renovation of Gaddafi Stadium. The result? A world-class showcase that demonstrated Pakistan’s capability and passion for hosting ICC events.
As the dust settles, the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 stands as a defining moment for global cricket—one that blended emotion, legacy, and record-breaking excitement into a single, unforgettable celebration of the sport.