The ICC Champions Trophy is a premier One Day International (ODI) cricket tournament organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC). It is considered the second most prestigious 50-over tournament after the ICC Cricket World Cup. Designed to bring together top-ranked international teams, the competition plays a significant role in maintaining competitive standards in ODI cricket.
History
The tournament was inaugurated in 1998 as the ICC KnockOut Trophy and was held in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Initially designed to raise funds for cricket development in non-Test playing nations, it featured a knockout format and included all ICC full member teams. The 2000 edition, also held under the KnockOut format, took place in Kenya.
In 2002, the tournament was renamed the ICC Champions Trophy and adopted a group stage followed by knockout rounds. The format saw teams divided into pools, with the top teams advancing to semi-finals and a final. This structure was retained with slight variations through subsequent editions.
Over the years, the Champions Trophy has featured several memorable finals, such as the 2002 edition which ended in a shared trophy between India and Sri Lanka due to rain, and the 2013 final where India defeated England in a closely contested match. The 2017 edition was notable for Pakistan defeating India in the final at The Oval.
India holds the record for the most tournament wins (2 titles), followed by other champions such as South Africa, New Zealand, and Pakistan.
The tournament was discontinued after 2017 following a decision by the ICC to focus on World Cup and T20 formats. However, it was reinstated in 2021, with the next edition scheduled for 2025 in Pakistan.
Format
The Champions Trophy has typically featured 8 teams, although this has varied slightly depending on the edition. Initially played as a straight knockout tournament, it later adopted a group format followed by semi-finals and a final.
Qualification has usually been determined by ICC ODI rankings. The top 8 teams in the rankings ahead of a cutoff date qualify automatically. No associate nations have participated since the format change in 2002.
Teams and Qualification
Participation has generally included the top 8 ICC full-member teams based on ODI rankings. For earlier editions, a few associate teams also took part. For example, Kenya featured in 2000 as a host, and the United States played in 2004. However, recent editions have excluded associate nations to maintain a competitive balance.
For the 2025 edition, qualification was based on final standings in the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup.
Hosts
The tournament has been hosted by several countries:
- 1998: Bangladesh
- 2000: Kenya
- 2002: Sri Lanka
- 2004: England
- 2006: India
- 2009: South Africa
- 2013: England
- 2017: England
- 2025: Pakistan (upcoming)
Host nations are selected by the ICC based on infrastructure, security, and regional development goals. Notable issues have included security concerns, which led to South Africa hosting the 2009 edition originally scheduled in Pakistan.
Notable Records
- Most Titles: India (2 – shared in 2002 and won in 2013)
- Top Run-scorer: Chris Gayle (West Indies)
- Top Wicket-taker: Kyle Mills (New Zealand)
Memorable matches include Pakistan’s surprise victory over India in 2017 and England’s close loss to India in the 2013 final.
Trophy and Branding
The Champions Trophy features a silver trophy awarded to the winning team. Its design has evolved slightly but retains a classic cup shape. Branding and logos have changed over the years to match ICC visual identity guidelines for major tournaments.
Sponsors have included PepsiCo, LG, Reliance, and Nissan, reflecting the tournament’s commercial value and global reach.
Discontinuation and Return
Following the 2017 edition, the ICC initially decided to discontinue the Champions Trophy to make room for more T20 cricket and to streamline its event calendar. However, in 2021, the ICC announced the return of the Champions Trophy, with Pakistan confirmed as the host for the 2025 edition. This marks the first ICC tournament to be held in Pakistan since 1996.
The reinstatement reflects the ICC’s interest in providing a balanced portfolio of white-ball events and acknowledges the popularity of the 50-over format.
See Also
References
