LAHORE – 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.
The 2017 Champions Trophy was won by Pakistan, beating arch-rivals India by 180 runs in the final at The Oval. The recently concluded eight-team tournament marked Pakistan’s first ICC event on home soil since 1996.
In preparation, Pakistan undertook significant renovations and construction of stadiums across the country, most notably completing the revamp of Gaddafi Stadium in record time. The 2025 tournament saw matches hosted across Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi, with Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium hosting four games, including a semi-final, while Karachi hosted the tournament opener.
The final held on 9 March in the UAE between India and New Zealand, became the most-watched Champions Trophy match in history, generating 65.3 billion live viewing minutes globally—a 52.1 per cent increase over the 2017 final.
Despite Pakistan not performing up to expectations, viewing hours within the host nation rose by 24 per cent. The tournament also became the most-watched Champions Trophy in Australia, with viewing hours increasing by 65 per cent compared to the previous edition.
