When did the ICC Champions Trophy start?
Why are only 8 teams selected in the Champions Trophy? The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is going to start on February 19. This global tournament is no less than any World Cup. A total of 8 teams are participating in the 2025 Champions Trophy. This tournament will start on February 19 and continue till March 9. When did the Champions Trophy start, which team has won the title and how many times has it been won, etc., are the questions that cricket lovers have in their minds. The biggest question is, why do 8 teams always qualify for the Champions Trophy, and how does a team qualify for it?
The ICC Champions Trophy was launched in 1998. Earlier, the tournament was called the Knockout Trophy. The Knockout Trophy in 1998 was won by South Africa. However, when the tournament was held for the second time in 2000, it was renamed the Champions Trophy. So far, 8 editions of the Champions Trophy have been played. India and Australia have been lucky enough to lift the trophy twice each. Similarly, South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, the West Indies, and Pakistan have won the trophy once each. you also read this Why is Pakistan name on India’s jersey?
Why are 8 teams selected for the Champions Trophy? To get the answer to this question, we have to turn the page of cricket’s 27-year history. In 1998, the ICC started this tournament under the name Knockout Trophy. According to the format of the tournament, the first match of the teams was the quarterfinal. 9 teams participated in the tournament. In the preliminary match, New Zealand qualified for the quarterfinal stage by defeating their opponents, Zimbabwe. Later, the Knockout Trophy was renamed the Champions Trophy. However, the format of 8 teams continued. In the current format, 8 teams qualify for the Champions Trophy. you can read this story Which team jersey is the most expensive?
The teams in the top eight positions in the One-Day World Cup points table qualify to play in the Champions Trophy.
South Africa became champions in the first edition in 1998.
In 2000, New Zealand became champions after defeating India.
-India won the Champions Trophy for the first time in 2002. India and Sri Lanka were declared runners-up.
-Then in 2013, under the leadership of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India defeated England to become champions for the second time.
In 2004, the West Indies became champions after defeating England.
In 2006, Australia became champions after defeating the West Indies.
Australia became champions for the second consecutive time in 2009, defeating New Zealand.
Pakistan became champions in 2017, defeating India.
In the ongoing Champions Trophy, all the teams have been divided into two groups. Group A includes India, Pakistan, New Zealand, and Bangladesh. Group B includes England, South Africa, Afghanistan, and Australia. This time, India will play the Championship Trophy under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma.
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