ICC Men's Champions Trophy History: Champions Trophy also referred to as the “Mini World Cup” was introduced by the ICC in 1998. Initially, the tournament was inaugurated as the ICC Knockout Tournament, designed to be played every four years. The primary aim was to raise funds in non-Test playing nations, with the first two editions held in Kenya and Bangladesh. However, due to its commercial success, subsequent editions were hosted in major cricketing nations like England and India.

Since the 2009 edition, the ICC decided that only the top eight teams in the ODI rankings would participate. The rankings cut-off was set six months before the tournament. Despite its popularity, the Champions Trophy was scrapped after the 2017 edition to streamline global tournaments, keeping only one ICC event per format. However, in 2021, the ICC announced its return, with editions scheduled for 2025 and 2029.

ICC Champions Trophy Winners List And Runner-ups From 1998 To 2025

Year

Host Nation(S)

Winner

Runner-Up

1998

Bangladesh

South Africa

West Indies

2000

Kenya

New Zealand

India

2002

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka and India

None

2004

England

West Indies

England

2006

India

Australia

West Indies

2009

South Africa

Australia

New Zealand

2013

England and Wales

India

England

2017

England and Wales

Pakistan

India

2025

Pakistan

NA

NA

The 2025 Champions Trophy will feature eight teams divided into two groups. Each team will play three group-stage matches, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals. Group A consists of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and New Zealand, while Group B features Afghanistan, England, Australia, and South Africa.

The tournament will kick off with hosts Pakistan taking on New Zealand on February 19 in Karachi. Each team will face its fellow group members once, and the top two from each group will qualify for the semi-finals. The semi-final matchups will see A1 vs. B2 and B1 vs. A2.

If India qualifies for the semi-finals, their match will be played in Dubai on March 4, regardless of their group stage position. Similarly, if Pakistan qualifies, their semi-final will be hosted in Lahore on March 5. The final is set to take place on March 9 in Lahore, but if India reaches the final, it will be shifted to Dubai.