The Champions Trophy 2025 is set to take place in Pakistan, marking the return of an ICC tournament to the country after a long hiatus. This edition of the Champions Trophy will feature eight teams, and one of them has qualified for the first time: Afghanistan. Recently, Afghanistan has demonstrated strong performances across all formats.
Afghanistan Defeats Three Former Champions
The teams for the 2025 Champions Trophy include those that finished in the top 8 of the ODI World Cup 2023 points table (including Pakistan). Pakistan qualified as the host nation. In the 2023 ODI World Cup, Afghanistan performed exceptionally well, securing the sixth spot in the points table and winning four matches. Afghanistan defeated three former World Champions: England, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Their impressive performance earned them a spot in the Champions Trophy.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has sent the schedule for the 2025 Champions Trophy to the ICC. Afghanistan has been placed in Group B, which also includes England, South Africa, and Australia. Afghanistan will face these three teams, although the ICC has yet to officially announce the full schedule for the Champions Trophy.
Teams for the 2025 Champions Trophy:
- Group A: India, Pakistan, New Zealand, Bangladesh
- Group B: England, South Africa, Australia, Afghanistan
Champions Trophy Title Winners:
India and Australia have each won the Champions Trophy twice. South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, West Indies, and Pakistan have each won it once. The last Champions Trophy was held in 2017, where Pakistan defeated India in the final.
List of Champions Trophy Winners:
- South Africa – 1998
- New Zealand – 2000
- India and Sri Lanka (joint winners) – 2002
- West Indies – 2004
- Australia – 2006
- Australia – 2009
- India – 2013
- Pakistan – 2017