Sri Lanka and West Indies will not participate in the Champions Trophy 2025 due to subpar performances in the ODI World Cup 2023. Sri Lanka won only two matches and lost critical ones, while West Indies failed to qualify for the World Cup. Bangladesh qualified based on a better net run rate against Sri Lanka. The tournament will include eight teams: India, Pakistan, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.
Pakistan will host an ICC event for the first time since 1996 by qualifying as the host for the eight-team Champions Trophy. The host selection was based on the standings from the ODI World Cup 2023, leading to some teams qualifying while others missed out.
Sri Lanka, co-champions of the 2002 Champions Trophy, managed to win only two matches during the ODI World Cup 2023. After securing wins against the Netherlands and England, they lost all subsequent matches against Bangladesh, Afghanistan, India, and New Zealand, which eliminated them from contention for the upcoming tournament.
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka finished with the same points during the World Cup, but Bangladesh advanced to the top eight based on superior net run rate (NRR) in their head-to-head encounters against Sri Lanka. Since both teams performed similarly in the tournament, this NRR difference was a crucial factor in Bangladesh’s qualification.
West Indies are absent from the Champions Trophy as they failed to qualify for the 2023 ODI World Cup. As the tournament will expand back to 14 teams in 2027, the West Indies, who have won the ODI World Cup twice, will have another opportunity to participate in the next edition.
England narrowly qualified for the Champions Trophy after facing a potential exit due to five consecutive losses in the ODI World Cup 2023. A resurgence with wins against the Netherlands and Pakistan helped England finish seventh with six points, securing their place.
Afghanistan emerged as a surprising contender in the World Cup, achieving victories against three full-member nations—including Pakistan, England, and Sri Lanka. Their strong performance earned them a spot in the Champions Trophy, marking their debut appearance in this prestigious tournament.
The Champions Trophy will feature eight teams: India, Pakistan, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. These teams will be divided into two groups of four, with the top two from each group advancing to the semi-finals in a 15-game tournament. Each match will be crucial as even a single defeat could alter the outcome of qualification.
Sri Lanka’s poor performance in the ODIs and West Indies’ failure to qualify for the World Cup led to their absence in the Champions Trophy 2025. Bangladesh’s superior NRR enabled them to advance, while Afghanistan’s impressive performance grants them a debut. The tournament features strong teams competing to advance to the semis, highlighting the importance of each match.
Original Source: www.indiatvnews.com
