Champions Trophy 2025 records historic 368bn viewing minutes

A person rides on a motorbike past a wall with a billboard advertisement ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 tournament, in Karachi on February 13, 2025. — Reuters

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced that the Champions Trophy 2025, which was co-hosted by Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, has made history with an astounding 368 billion global viewing minutes.

According to a recent press release from the Pakistan Cricket Board, this represents a remarkable 19% increase from the last edition held in England and Wales in 2017, where Pakistan claimed victory over India by 180 runs in the final.

The 2025 tournament culminated in a thrilling showdown between India and New Zealand in the UAE, marking a significant return of an ICC event to Pakistan after a 29-year gap.

The last time the country hosted such a prestigious tournament was during the 1996 Cricket World Cup, highlighting a long-awaited revival in global cricket events on its soil.

This illustration shows the record-breaking number of views received by ICC Champions Trophy 2025 which was hosted by Pakistan. — PCB

Pakistan undertook renovations and construction across its stadiums in its commitment to host the international event.

The iconic Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, notably revamped in record time, hosted four pivotal matches, including a semi-final. Karachi had the distinct honour of hosting the tournament opener, with Rawalpindi also playing a crucial role in the successful staging of the event.

The grand finale held on March 9 in the UAE between cricketing giants India and New Zealand, became the most-watched Champions Trophy match in history.

It generated an astounding 65.3 billion live viewing minutes globally, marking a phenomenal 52.1% increase over the 2017 final, according to the press release.

Despite the host nation, Pakistan, not performing up to the expectations of its passionate fanbase, viewing hours within the country still witnessed a remarkable 24% surge. This underscores the unwavering support and enthusiasm for cricket among Pakistani viewers.

The global appeal of the tournament was further highlighted by its record-breaking performance in Australia, where viewing hours increased by an impressive 65% compared to the previous edition.

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