The ICC Champions Trophy 2006 is scheduled to be held in India between 7 October and 5 November. Since the ICC World Cup in 1996, this is the first ICC tournament to take place in India. The 5th Champions Trophy (considering its earlier avatar of ICC Knock Out Tournament) would see India for the first time in its short history, as its venue. Naturally the game is set to create a positive stir in the cricket-loving nation.
Ten teams in total would contend in 21 games for the trophy and prize money of USD 500,000. Instead of 12 teams in previous tournaments, this year the International Cricket Council has chosen top ten sides - six teams (namely: Australia, South Africa, India, Pakistan, England, New Zealand) from the LG ICC ODI Championship table and four others (namely: Sri Lanka, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh). The last four teams would contest in 6 matches in the qualifying round out of which only 2 would make it to the main even with the six teams from the LG ICC ODI Championship table. After playing 12 matches in the group stage, only 4 teams would play the semifinals.
Maps of India brings you the Complete Schedule of the ICC Champions Trophy 2006:
| Date | Team | Vs | Team | Venue |
| Preliminary Round |
| 7-Oct | Sri Lanka | Vs | Bangladesh | PCA Stadium, Mohali |
| 8-Oct | West Indies | Vs | Zimbabwe | Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| 10-Oct | Sri Lanka | Vs | Zimbabwe | Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| 11-Oct | West Indies | Vs | Bangladesh | Sawai Man Singh Stadium, Jaipur |
| 13-Oct | Bangladesh | Vs | Zimbabwe | Sawai Man Singh Stadium, Jaipur |
| 14-Oct | Sri Lanka | Vs | West Indies | Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai |
| Group Stage |
| 15-Oct | India | Vs | England | Sawai Man Singh Stadium, Jaipur |
| 16-Oct | New Zealand | Vs | South Africa | Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai |
| 17-Oct | Pakistan | Vs | Qualifier 1 | Sawai Man Singh Stadium, Jaipur |
| 18-Oct | Australia | Vs | Qualifier 2 | Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai |
| 20-Oct | New Zealand | Vs | Q1 | Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai |
| 21-Oct | Australia | Vs | England | Sawai Man Singh Stadium, Jaipur |
| 24-Oct | South Africa | Vs | Q1 | Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| 25-Oct | New Zealand | Vs | Pakistan | PCA Stadium, Mohali |
| 26-Oct | India | Vs | Q2 | Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| 27-Oct | Pakistan | Vs | South Africa | PCA Stadium, Mohali |
| 28-Oct | England | Vs | Q2 | Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| 29-Oct | India | Vs | Australia | PCA Stadium, Mohali |
| Knock Out Stage |
| 1-Nov | 1st Semifinal | PCA Stadium, Mohali |
| 2-Nov | 2nd Semifinal | Sawai Man Singh Stadium, Jaipur |
| Final |
| 5-Nov | FINAL | Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai |
All the games would be day-night matches to be played in floodlit grounds. In the present format the games are expected to be more exciting and enjoyable.
The ICC has estimated it will raise USD 65 million at the end of this year's event, which would be spent in development and promotion of cricket in ICC's Associate & Affiliate nations. Considering the huge fan following for cricket in India, the Government of India has already declared it will exempt the tax upon the income from ICC Champions Trophy 2006.
Rest assured, you can wait to watch another successful ICC Champions Trophy in 2006. So, gear up to cheer in support of your favorite team as the tournament begins.
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