The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is set to take place in Pakistan from February 19 to March 9, featuring the top eight teams in world cricket. While fans eagerly anticipate the tournament, several notable teams that have played in past editions will be absent this time. Notably, Afghanistan will be making their first-ever appearance in the competition, marking a historic milestone for their cricketing journey.
Teams Missing from ICC Champions Trophy 2025
1. Sri Lanka (1998-2017)
A former Champions Trophy winner, has been a consistent participant in all past editions from 1998 to 2017. However, their recent struggles in ODI cricket and failure to secure a top-eight finish in the ODI Super League have resulted in their absence from the 2025 edition. This marks a significant setback for the island nation, which has historically been a strong force in ICC tournaments.
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2. West Indies (1998-2013)
Another past winner of the Champions Trophy failed to qualify for the 2025 edition due to their underwhelming performances in ODI cricket. Despite their rich history and dominance in the early years of limited-overs cricket, the two-time T20 World Cup champions have struggled in the ODI format, leading to their omission from the tournament. Notably, West Indies also failed to qualify for the 2017 Champions Trophy, signaling their ongoing decline in the format. They last played in 2013’s edition in England.
3. Zimbabwe (1998-2004)
Team Zimbabwe was once a regular participant in ICC events and played in the 1998, 2000, 2002, and 2004 editions of the Champions Trophy. However, their decline in ODI rankings and struggles in international cricket have led to their absence from major ICC events. Zimbabwe last participated in the Champions Trophy in the 2004 edition and has been unable to qualify since.
Also read | Teams Playing All Editions of the ICC Champions Trophy
5. Kenya (2000-2004)
The Kenya cricket team made history by playing in the 2000, 2002, and 2004 ICC Champions Trophy tournaments when the event had 12 teams. They were also semifinalists in the 2003 Cricket World Cup, showing promise at the time. Unfortunately, their cricket structure weakened over the years, and they have since fallen out of the international spotlight.
3. Netherlands (2002)
The Netherlands has previously participated in the Champions Trophy, notably in the 2002 and 2006 editions when the tournament featured 12 teams. However, due to their inconsistent performances in the ODI format, they failed to qualify for any edition of the Champions Trophy after 2006. Despite their recent progress in T20 cricket, they were unable to secure a top-eight finish in the ODI Super League.
6. USA (2004)
The USA cricket team featured in the 2004 Champions Trophy, making a brief but historic appearance. Despite their growth in cricket infrastructure and participation in the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup, they were unable to qualify for any edition of the Champions Trophy after 2004 due to their low ODI rankings.
Afghanistan’s Historic Qualification
Afghanistan’s qualification for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is a landmark achievement. The team has been rapidly improving in world cricket and secured a place in the top eight teams through consistent performances in the ODI Super League. Their inclusion marks a new era, showing how far Afghan cricket has come since gaining full-member status in 2017.
Conclusion
The absence of teams like Sri Lanka, and West Indies from the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy highlights the evolving landscape of international cricket. Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s debut in the tournament is a significant step forward for the rising cricketing nation. As the tournament unfolds, fans will be watching closely to see how the qualified teams perform in Pakistan.
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Last Updated on February 18, 2025
