The Champions Trophy is a cricket tournament organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
It was initially known as the ICC Knock Out tournament when it began in 1998 and later renamed the Champions Trophy in 2002. Here's some key information:
Overview:
Format: One-Day International (ODI) cricket.
Frequency: Initially held every two years, though later editions became less frequent.
Participants: Features the top eight teams in ODI rankings.
Purpose: Often referred to as the #MiniWorldCup it serves as a high-profile tournament in global #cricket.
Notable Facts & Unique Features:
1. First Edition: Held in 1998 in Bangladesh; South Africa won the inaugural tournament.
2. Last Edition: The most recent Champions Trophy was held in 2017 in England, where Pakistan defeated India in the final.
3. 2025 Return: The #ICC has announced that the #ChampionsTrophy will return in 2025 and be hosted by Pakistan.
Unlike the Cricket World Cup, the Champions Trophy focuses only on top-ranked teams, leading to a shorter tournament.
The matches are known for their intensity and quality due to the limited number of participants.
ICC Champions Trophy, 2025 FIXCTURE & SCHEDULE
Feb 19, Pakistan vs New Zealand, 1st Match, Group A
National Stadium, Karachi at Feb 19, 02:00 PM
Feb 20, Bangladesh vs India, 2nd Match, Group A
Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai at Feb 20, 01:00 PM
Feb 21, Afghanistan vs South Africa, 3rd Match, Group B
National Stadium, Karachi at Feb 21, 02:00 PM
Feb 22, Australia vs England, 4th Match, Group B
Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore at Feb 22, 02:00 PM
Feb 23, Pakistan vs India, 5th Match, Group A
Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai at Feb 23, 01:00 PM
Feb 24, Bangladesh vs New Zealand, 6th Match, Group A
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi at Feb 24, 02:00 PM
Feb 25, Australia vs South Africa, 7th Match, Group B
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi at Feb 25, 02:00 PM
Feb 26, Afghanistan vs England, 8th Match, Group B
Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore at 02:00 PM
Feb 27, Pakistan vs Bangladesh, 9th Match, Group A
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi at Feb 27, 02:00 PM
Feb 28, Afghanistan vs Australia, 10th Match, Group B
Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore at Feb 28, 02:00 PM
Mar 01, South Africa vs England, 11th Match, Group B
National Stadium, Karachi at Mar 01, 02:00 PM
Mar 02, New Zealand vs India, 12th Match, Group A
Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai at Mar 02, 01:00 PM
Mar 04, TBC vs TBC, 1st Semi-Final (A1 v B2)
Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai at Mar 04, 01:00 PM
Mar 05, TBC vs TBC, 2nd Semi-Final (B1 v A2) Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore at 02:00 PM
Mar 09, TBC vs TBC, Final TBC, TBC 02:30 PM
Here is a summary of how all the major cricket teams have performed in the ICC Champions Trophy from 1998 to 2017:
1. Australia
Titles Won: 2 (2006, 2009)
Best Performance: Champions in 2006 and 2009, defeating West Indies and New Zealand, respectively.
Notable Players: Ricky Ponting, Shane Watson, Glenn McGrath.
Overall Performance: A dominant side, reaching semi-finals multiple times.
2. India
Titles Won: 2 (2002*, 2013)
Best Performance: Joint winners with Sri Lanka in 2002 (rain-affected final) and outright champions in 2013 (defeating England).
Notable Players: Sourav Ganguly, MS Dhoni, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli.
Overall Performance: Consistent, reaching finals in 2000, 2002, and 2013.
3. Pakistan
Titles Won: 1 (2017)
Best Performance: Stunning victory in the 2017 edition, defeating India by 180 runs in the final.
Notable Players: Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Amir.
Overall Performance: Mixed success until the breakthrough win in 2017.
4. South Africa
Titles Won: 1 (1998)
Best Performance: Champions of the inaugural edition in 1998, defeating the West Indies in the final.
Notable Players: Jacques Kallis, Shaun Pollock.
Overall Performance: Strong early performance but later labeled as underachievers in ICC events.
5. Sri Lanka
Titles Won: 1 (2002*)
Best Performance: Joint winners with India in 2002 after two rain-affected finals.
Notable Players: Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Jayawardene.
Overall Performance: Competitive team, with several semi-final appearances.
6. New Zealand
Titles Won: 1 (2000)
Best Performance: Champions in 2000, defeating India in the final.
Notable Players: Chris Cairns, Nathan Astle.
Overall Performance: A strong team in the early editions, with one championship win.
7. West Indies
Titles Won: 1 (2004)
Best Performance: Champions in 2004, defeating England in the final.
Notable Players: Brian Lara, Chris Gayle.
Overall Performance: Successful in the 2000s but declined in later editions.
8. England
Titles Won: None
Best Performance: Runners-up in 2004 and 2013, losing to West Indies and India, respectively.
Notable Players: Marcus Trescothick, Joe Root.
Overall Performance: Competitive but unable to secure a title.
9. Other Teams
Kenya: Participated in 2000 but did not progress beyond the group stage.
Bangladesh: Played in multiple editions but failed to make a significant impact.
Zimbabwe: Participated in early editions with modest results.
Champions Trophy Winners by Edition:
1998: #SouthAfrica
2000: #NewZealand
2004: #WestIndies
2006: #Australia
2009: Australia
2013: #India
2017: #Pakistan
The ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025 is scheduled from February 19 to March 9, 2025, featuring the top eight ODI teams divided into two groups:
Group A: Pakistan, India, New Zealand, Bangladesh
Group B: South Africa, Australia, Afghanistan, England
Due to political considerations, India's matches will be held in Dubai, while other fixtures will take place across venues in Pakistan, including Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi.
*Note: If India qualifies for the final, it will be held in Dubai; otherwise, it will take place in Lahore.
The tournament opens with hosts Pakistan facing New Zealand on February 19 in Karachi. A highly anticipated match between arch-rivals Pakistan and India is scheduled for February 23 in Dubai. The semi-finals are set for March 4 in Dubai and March 5 in Lahore, leading up to the final on March 9.
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