Lahore: The ICC Champions Trophy 2025, jointly hosted by Pakistan and the UAE, achieved an unprecedented milestone by recording 368 billion global viewing minutes. This figure reflects a 19 percent increase from the previous edition held in 2017 in England and Wales, as announced by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday.

The 2025 tournament was notable for being the first ICC event hosted on Pakistani soil since 1996. Pakistan, which won the 2017 Champions Trophy by defeating India in the final, undertook extensive renovations and construction efforts in preparation for this event. Key improvements included the rapid revamp of Gaddafi Stadium. Matches were held across Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi, with Gaddafi Stadium hosting a semi-final and Karachi hosting the tournament opener.

The final, played on March 9 in the UAE between India and New Zealand, became the most-watched match in Champions Trophy history. It generated 65.3 billion live viewing minutes globally, marking a 52.1 percent increase over the 2017 final.

Despite Pakistan’s less-than-expected performance, the host nation saw a 24 percent rise in viewing hours. Additionally, Australia also experienced a significant surge in viewership, with a 65 percent increase compared to the previous edition.