ICC Champions Trophy is making a comeback after an eight-year hiatus, with the International Cricket Council (ICC) announcing that they will be reviving the tournament. The event is set to be held in Pakistan in 2025, but with a new twist to the qualification process that may see some Test-playing nations miss out on the tournament.
The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy will feature a total of 8 teams, all of which will be playing in the ODI format. However, the new qualification process has brought some uncertainty to the tournament, as teams like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh may struggle to secure their spots due to their performance in the previous World Cup.
In an unexpected move, the ICC has announced that the top seven teams at the conclusion of the group stage in the ICC ODI World Cup, along with the host nation, Pakistan, will qualify for the 2025 Champions Trophy. This new approach to qualification has excluded full-member nations like West Indies and Zimbabwe who failed to qualify for the 2023 World Cup.
The list of teams who have already qualified for the Champions Trophy includes India, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Afghanistan, England, and the host nation, Pakistan. Bangladesh has also secured their spot, leaving teams like Sri Lanka and the Netherlands out of the running.
With the new qualification process in place, the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is sure to bring heightened excitement and anticipation for cricket fans around the world. With the previous World Cup serving as a key determinant for qualification, the stage is set for an intense and competitive tournament in 2025.