The ICC Champions Trophy, formerly known as the ICC KnockOut Trophy, is a quadrennial One Day International (ODI) cricket tournament organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
First introduced in 1998, the Champions Trophy was conceived by the ICC as a shorter tournament aimed at generating funds for the development of cricket in non-Test playing nations. It is often compared to the FIFA Confederations Cup in football and shares the ODI format with the Cricket World Cup.
The inaugural edition took place in Bangladesh in June 1998, 23 years after the Cricket World Cup had already been established with six completed editions. The first two tournaments were hosted by ICC Associate member nations—Bangladesh and Kenya—to promote the sport in those regions and utilize the revenue for their cricket development. Since the 2002 edition, the hosting duties have been distributed among full ICC member nations based on an informal rotation system, with at least six members having staged matches in the tournament.
The current format includes a qualification process tied to the preceding Cricket World Cup. The top eight teams from the World Cup, including the host nation, earn a spot in the tournament phase. Across eight editions, a total of thirteen teams have participated, with eight teams featuring in the 2017 tournament. Australia and India are the most successful teams, each winning the tournament twice, while South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, West Indies, and Pakistan have each secured one title. Seven nations have competed in every edition of the tournament.
Pakistan is the reigning champion, having won the 2017 edition held in England and Wales. The upcoming 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is scheduled to commence on February 19, with Pakistan as the primary host. However, due to political tensions, the Indian cricket team has opted not to play in Pakistan, leading to some matches being hosted in the UAE.
History
| Year | Champions |
|---|---|
| 1998 | South Africa |
| 2000 | New Zealand |
| 2002 | India, Sri Lanka |
| 2004 | West Indies |
| 2006 | Australia |
| 2009 | Australia (2) |
| 2013 | India (2) |
| 2017 | Pakistan |
| 2025 | TBD |
Men's Champions Trophy Winners
- Most runs in the tournament: Chris Gayle
- Most wickets in the tournament: Kyle Mills
ICC KnockOut Trophy (1998-2000)
The first Cricket World Cup was held in 1975 and was played every four years, primarily featuring full ICC member nations. To generate funds for the development of cricket in non-Test playing countries, the ICC introduced the Champions Trophy as a short-format tournament. The first two editions were hosted by ICC Associate nations—Bangladesh (1998) and Kenya (2000).
Originally named the ICC KnockOut Trophy, the tournament was later rebranded as the Champions Trophy in 2002.
ICC Champions Trophy (2002-2017)
From 2002 onward, the tournament has been hosted by full ICC member nations, with the number of participating teams reduced to eight. Dubbed the "Mini World Cup," it was initially designed as a knockout competition to ensure a compact schedule without undermining the Cricket World Cup's significance. However, starting in 2002, a round-robin stage was introduced, followed by knockout matches. Despite this change, the tournament remained short, typically lasting about two weeks.
Over the years, the number of participating teams has varied. Initially, all full ICC members competed, with associate nations included between 2000 and 2004. Since 2009, only the top eight teams in the ICC ODI Rankings (as of six months before the event) have been eligible.
The tournament was initially held every two years until 2006. The 2008 edition, scheduled in Pakistan, was moved to South Africa in 2009 due to security concerns. Since then, it has been played every four years, similar to the World Cup.
Due to scheduling conflicts and discussions about its relevance, no Champions Trophy was held in 2021. However, the tournament was reinstated for 2025.
Revival and Rebranding (2025 Onwards)
On November 13, 2024, the ICC unveiled a refreshed visual identity for the Champions Trophy, introducing a distinctive typographic logo through a brand launch video. The rebranding also reintroduced the iconic white winners' jackets, paying tribute to the tournament's legacy.
Pakistan was officially named the host for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. However, due to security concerns, India declined to travel to Pakistan, leading to an agreement between the BCCI and PCB to hold some matches at a neutral venue—later confirmed as the UAE.
Format
Qualification
In the first eight editions, the qualification process varied:
- The 1998 edition had nine teams.
- The 2000 edition expanded to eleven teams.
- By 2002, the tournament featured twelve teams.
- In 2006, the number was reduced to ten, with a qualifying round.
- Since 2009, the tournament has been limited to eight teams based on ICC rankings.
From 2025 onward, the top eight teams from the most recent ICC Men's Cricket World Cup will automatically qualify for the Champions Trophy.
Tournament Structure
The Champions Trophy differs from the World Cup in several ways:
- It is a shorter tournament, spanning around two and a half weeks, compared to the World Cup, which lasts over a month.
- It features fewer teams—eight in recent editions, compared to ten in the most recent World Cup.
Past Formats:
- In 1998 and 2000, the event followed a knockout structure, with no group stage.
- In 2002 and 2004, the round-robin format was introduced, featuring four pools of three teams, with group winners advancing to the semi-finals.
- Since 2009, the competition has followed a two-group round-robin format, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals.
- The current structure consists of 15 matches, making it a high-stakes tournament where a single defeat can lead to elimination.
Summary of Tournament Formats
| # | Year | Host(s) | Teams | Matches | Preliminary Stage | Final Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1998 | Bangladesh | 9 | 8 | Pre-Quarter Final (2 teams: 1 match) | Knockout (8 teams: 7 matches) |
| 2 | 2000 | Kenya | 11 | 10 | Pre-Quarter Final (6 teams: 3 matches) | Knockout (8 teams: 7 matches) |
| 3 | 2002 | Sri Lanka | 12 | 15 | 4 groups of 3 teams (12 matches) | Knockout (4 teams: 3 matches) |
| 4 | 2004 | England | 12 | 15 | 4 groups of 3 teams (12 matches) | Knockout (4 teams: 3 matches) |
| 5 | 2006 | India | 10 | 21 | Qualifying group (4 teams: 6 matches) 2 groups of 4 teams (12 matches) | Knockout (4 teams: 3 matches) |
| 6 | 2009 | South Africa | 8 | 15 | 2 groups of 4 teams (12 matches) | Knockout (4 teams: 3 matches) |
| 7 | 2013 | England, Wales | 8 | 15 | 2 groups of 4 teams (12 matches) | Knockout (4 teams: 3 matches) |
| 8 | 2017 | England, Wales | 8 | 15 | 2 groups of 4 teams (12 matches) | Knockout (4 teams: 3 matches) |
| 9 | 2025 | Pakistan, UAE | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 10 | 2029 | India | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Hosts of the ICC Champions Trophy
The ICC Champions Trophy has been hosted by various nations, with England hosting the tournament the most times (2004, 2013, and 2017), followed by Wales (2013 and 2017). Other host countries include Bangladesh, Kenya, Sri Lanka, India, and South Africa, each hosting once.
Sri Lanka remains the only host nation to win the tournament, sharing the title with India in 2002. England reached the final twice on home soil (2004 and 2013) but lost on both occasions.
In 2021, the ICC announced the Future Tours Programme (FTP) for 2024-2031, confirming Pakistan as the host for the 2025 edition and India for the 2029 edition.
Tournament Results
| Year | Host Nation(s) | Final Venue | Winner | Result | Runner-up | Teams |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Bangladesh | Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka | South Africa | Won by 4 wickets | West Indies | 9 |
| 2000 | Kenya | Gymkhana Club Ground, Nairobi | New Zealand | Won by 4 wickets | India | 11 |
| 2002 | Sri Lanka | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | India & Sri Lanka | Co-champions due to rain | - | 12 |
| 2004 | England | The Oval, London | West Indies | Won by 2 wickets | England | 12 |
| 2006 | India | Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai | Australia | Won by 8 wickets (D/L method) | West Indies | 10 |
| 2009 | South Africa | SuperSport Park, Centurion | Australia | Won by 6 wickets | New Zealand | 8 |
| 2013 | England, Wales | Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Birmingham | India | Won by 5 runs | England | 8 |
| 2017 | England, Wales | The Oval, London | Pakistan | Won by 180 runs | India | 8 |
| 2025 | Pakistan, UAE | Dubai or Lahore (TBD) | TBD | TBD | TBD | 8 |
| 2029 | India | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Tournament Summary
- Thirteen nations have participated in the Champions Trophy at least once.
- Seven teams have competed in every edition.
- Seven different teams have won the tournament:
- South Africa (1998)
- New Zealand (2000)
- India (2002, 2013)
- Sri Lanka (2002, co-champions with India)
- West Indies (2004)
- Australia (2006, 2009 – the only team to win consecutive titles)
- Pakistan (2017)
- England, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, and Ireland are the only full ICC members (Test-playing nations) that have never won the tournament.
- England has been the runner-up twice (2004, 2013).
- Bangladesh reached the semi-finals in 2017.
- Zimbabwe has never advanced past the first round.
- The highest rank achieved by an associate member nation was 9th place by Kenya in 2000.
Hosts' Performance
- Sri Lanka (2002) is the only host to win the tournament, though they were co-champions with India due to a rain-affected final.
- England reached the final twice as hosts but lost both times (2004, 2013).
- Bangladesh hosted the inaugural event in 1998 but did not participate.
- Kenya (2000), India (2006), and South Africa (2009) are the only hosts to be eliminated in the first round.
Teams' Performances in ICC Champions Trophy
The table below summarizes the performance of all teams that have participated in the ICC Champions Trophy. The number of teams in each edition is indicated in parentheses.
Teams' Performance Summary
| Team | 1998 (9) | 2000 (11) | 2002 (12) | 2004 (12) | 2006 (10) | 2009 (8) | 2013 (8) | 2017 (8) | 2025 (8) | Apps. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Q | 1 |
| Australia | QF | QF | SF | SF | W | W | Grp | Grp | Q | 9 |
| Bangladesh | — | PQF | Grp | Grp | Grp | — | — | SF | Q | 6 |
| England | QF | QF | Grp | RU | Grp | SF | RU | SF | Q | 9 |
| India | SF | RU | W | Grp | Grp | Grp | W | RU | Q | 9 |
| Kenya | — | PQF | Grp | Grp | — | — | — | — | — | 3 |
| Netherlands | — | — | Grp | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| New Zealand | QF | W | Grp | Grp | SF | RU | Grp | Grp | Q | 9 |
| Pakistan | QF | SF | Grp | SF | Grp | SF | Grp | W | Q | 9 |
| South Africa | W | SF | SF | Grp | SF | Grp | SF | Grp | Q | 9 |
| Sri Lanka | SF | QF | W | Grp | Grp | Grp | SF | Grp | — | 8 |
| United States | — | — | — | Grp | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| West Indies | RU | PQF | Grp | W | RU | Grp | Grp | — | — | 7 |
| Zimbabwe | PQF | QF | Grp | Grp | Grp | — | — | — | — | 5 |
Legend
- W – Champions
- RU – Runners-up
- SF – Semi-finalists
- QF – Quarter-finalists (1998–2000)
- PQF – Pre Quarter-finalists (1998–2000)
- Grp – Group Stage (2002–present)
- Q – Qualified for a future tournament
- Apps. – Total appearances
Notable Team Achievements
- India and Sri Lanka were declared co-champions in 2002.
- Australia (2006, 2009) is the only nation to win back-to-back titles.
- England has reached two finals but never won (2004, 2013).
- Sri Lanka (2002) is the only host to win the tournament (co-champions).
- Bangladesh reached its first semi-final in 2017.
- Pakistan won its first ICC Champions Trophy title in 2017, defeating India by 180 runs.
- Kenya (2000) achieved the highest rank for an associate nation (9th place).
Debutant Teams Per Edition
| Year | Debutant Teams | Total New Teams |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Zimbabwe | 9 |
| 2000 | Bangladesh, Kenya | 2 |
| 2002 | Netherlands | 1 |
| 2004 | United States | 1 |
| 2006 | None | 0 |
| 2009 | None | 0 |
| 2013 | None | 0 |
| 2017 | None | 0 |
| 2025 | Afghanistan | 1 |
| 2029 | TBD | TBD |
Total Teams to Have Participated: 14
Team Performances Summary
Teams are sorted by best performance, then by appearances, total wins, total matches played, and alphabetically.
| Team | Apps. | First | Latest | Best Result | Mat. | Won | Lost | Tied | NR | Win % †|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 8 | 1998 | 2017 | Champions (2002, 2013) | 29 | 18 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 69.23 |
| Australia | 8 | 1998 | 2017 | Champions (2006, 2009) | 24 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 60.00 |
| South Africa | 8 | 1998 | 2017 | Champions (1998) | 24 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 52.08 |
| New Zealand | 8 | 1998 | 2017 | Champions (2000) | 24 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 54.54 |
| Sri Lanka | 8 | 1998 | 2017 | Champions (2002) | 27 | 14 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 56.00 |
| West Indies | 7 | 1998 | 2013 | Champions (2004) | 24 | 13 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 56.25 |
| Pakistan | 8 | 1998 | 2017 | Champions (2017) | 23 | 11 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 47.82 |
| England | 8 | 1998 | 2017 | Runners-up (2004, 2013) | 25 | 14 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 56.00 |
| Bangladesh | 5 | 2000 | 2017 | Semi-finals (2017) | 12 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 18.18 |
| Zimbabwe | 5 | 1998 | 2006 | Quarter-finals (2000) | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Kenya | 3 | 2000 | 2004 | Group stage | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Netherlands | 1 | 2002 | 2002 | Group stage | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| United States | 1 | 2004 | 2004 | Group stage | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Legend
- Apps. – Total tournament appearances
- Mat. – Total matches played
- NR – No result
- Win % – Win percentage excluding no-results (ties count as half a win)
Tournament History & Key Records
1998 ICC Knock Out Trophy
- Host: Bangladesh
- Winner: South Africa
- Runner-up: West Indies
- Final Venue: Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka
- Top Run-scorer: Philo Wallace (West Indies) – 221 runs
2000 ICC Knock Out Trophy
- Host: Kenya
- Winner: New Zealand
- Runner-up: India
- Final Venue: Gymkhana Club Ground, Nairobi
- Top Run-scorer: Sourav Ganguly (India) – 348 runs
- Top Wicket-taker: Venkatesh Prasad (India) – 8 wickets
- Notable Fact: First ICC title for New Zealand, their only ICC limited-overs trophy till 2021.
2002 ICC Champions Trophy
- Host: Sri Lanka
- Winners: India & Sri Lanka (Co-champions)
- Final Venue: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
- Top Run-scorer: Virender Sehwag (India) – 271 runs
- Top Wicket-taker: Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) – 10 wickets
- Notable Fact:
- The final was washed out twice due to rain, leading to joint winners.
- Sri Lanka played 50 overs twice, while India played only 10 overs in total before rain disruptions.
2004 ICC Champions Trophy (England)
- Winner: West Indies (captain: Brian Lara)
- Runner-up: England
- Final Match: West Indies won a tense game with Ian Bradshaw and Courtney Browne guiding them to victory.
- Notable Performance: Ramnaresh Sarwan was the Player of the Tournament.
2006 ICC Champions Trophy (India)
- Winner: Australia (captain: Ricky Ponting)
- Runner-up: West Indies
- Final Match: Australia won their first Champions Trophy, beating WI by 8 wickets.
- Notable Performance: Chris Gayle (474 runs) was the highest run-scorer, while Jerome Taylor (13 wickets) was the top wicket-taker.
2009 ICC Champions Trophy (South Africa)
- Winner: Australia (captain: Ricky Ponting)
- Runner-up: New Zealand
- Final Match: Australia defeated New Zealand by 6 wickets.
- Notable Performance: Ricky Ponting was the Player of the Tournament, and Wayne Parnell was the top wicket-taker (11 wickets).
2013 ICC Champions Trophy (England & Wales)
- Winner: India (captain: MS Dhoni)
- Runner-up: England
- Final Match: India beat England by 5 runs in a rain-shortened match.
- Notable Performance:
- Shikhar Dhawan (363 runs) won the Golden Bat.
- Ravindra Jadeja (12 wickets) won the Golden Ball.
- MS Dhoni became the first captain to win all three ICC white-ball trophies (T20 WC 2007, ODI WC 2011, CT 2013).
2017 ICC Champions Trophy (England & Wales)
- Winner: Pakistan (captain: Sarfaraz Ahmed)
- Runner-up: India
- Final Match: Pakistan beat India by 180 runs, marking their first Champions Trophy win.
- Notable Performance:
- Fakhar Zaman (114 in final) was Man of the Match.
- Hasan Ali (13 wickets) was Player of the Tournament.
- Shikhar Dhawan (338 runs) won his second consecutive Golden Bat.
2025 ICC Champions Trophy (Pakistan & UAE - Hybrid Model)
- India refused to play in Pakistan due to political tensions.
- India’s matches and final (if they qualify) will be played in Dubai.
- Expected Schedule: February-March 2025.
2029 ICC Champions Trophy (India)
- Scheduled for October-November 2029.
- India will host the tournament for the first time since 2006.
Analysis of ICC Champions Trophy Trends (2004–2029)
1. Australia’s Dominance (2006 & 2009)
- Australia won back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2009 under Ricky Ponting.
- Shane Watson played a key role in both finals.
- Australia became the only team to defend their title successfully.
2. India's Golden Era (2013 & 2017)
- India won the 2013 edition and reached the 2017 final.
- MS Dhoni’s leadership in 2013 was historic.
- Shikhar Dhawan became the most consistent batter in Champions Trophy history.
3. Pakistan's Historic 2017 Win
- Pakistan, the lowest-ranked team, surprised everyone by winning their first ICC Champions Trophy.
- Hasan Ali’s 13 wickets and Fakhar Zaman’s 114 in the final were crucial.
4. Decline of West Indies
- West Indies won in 2004 but failed to qualify for the 2017 edition.
- Struggles in ODI cricket and declining rankings affected their participation.
5. England's Near Misses
- England hosted 3 times (2004, 2013, 2017) but never won.
- They finished runners-up twice (2004, 2013).
6. Uncertain Future for 2025 Edition
- India’s refusal to play in Pakistan led to a hybrid model, with matches in Dubai.
- The political tensions between India and Pakistan could affect future tournaments.
Records & Statistics (2004–2021)
Batting Records
- Most Runs: Chris Gayle (791 runs, 2002-2013)
- Highest Average: Virat Kohli (88.16)
- Highest Score: Nathan Astle (145) & Andy Flower (145)*
- Most Hundreds: Shikhar Dhawan, Herschelle Gibbs, Sourav Ganguly, Chris Gayle (3 each)
Bowling Records
- Most Wickets: Kyle Mills (28 wickets, 2002-2013)
- Best Bowling Figures: Farveez Maharoof (6/14 vs WI, 2006)
- Most Wickets in a Tournament: Hasan Ali & Jerome Taylor (13 each)
Team Records
- Highest Team Total: New Zealand 347/4 vs USA (2004)
- Lowest Team Total: USA 65 all out vs Australia (2004)
- Biggest Victory (Runs): New Zealand beat USA by 210 runs (2004)
Final Thoughts
- Australia (2006, 2009) and India (2013) were the most dominant teams.
- Pakistan’s unexpected 2017 triumph was a historic moment.
- Shikhar Dhawan (2013, 2017) was the standout performer with two Golden Bats.
- Future editions (2025 & 2029) will be politically and logistically complex.
References
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- Raj, R., & Raj, R. (2020, June 23). On this day, India won the 2013 Champions Trophy & MS Dhoni achieved a historic ICC feat. MensXP. https://www.mensxp.com/sports/cricket/77676-on-this-day-india-won-the-2013-champions-trophy-ms-dhoni-achieved-a-historic-icc-feat.html
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- Vaitla, S. (2024, December 1). ICC Champions Trophy 2025: PCB kicks aside hybrid model, proposes new 'Partnership or Fusion Formula' https://cricketaddictor.com. https://cricketaddictor.com/cricket-news/icc-champions-trophy-2025-pcb-kicks-aside-hybrid-model-proposes-new-partnership-or-fusion-formula/
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