Cricket boards caught off guard as 2025 Champions Trophy qualification tied to ODI World Cup 2023
(Source: Twitter)
In a surprising twist, the ongoing ODI World Cup in India has taken on added significance, as it now serves as a crucial qualifier for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. The top seven teams at the conclusion of the league stage of the tournament, along with host nation Pakistan, will earn coveted spots in the eight-team event.
This revelation has taken many cricket boards by surprise, both those whose teams are currently competing in India and others who failed to secure a spot in the 2023 ODI World Cup. An ICC spokesperson confirmed that the qualification system for the 2025 Champions Trophy was endorsed by the ICC Board in 2021 when the competition was reintroduced as one of the eight key global tournaments in the 2024-31 cycle.
At present, Bangladesh and England find themselves outside the top seven on the ODI World Cup points table, placing them at No. 9 and 10, respectively. This means that they are currently ineligible to participate in the 2025 Champions Trophy.
This development also has repercussions for other Full-Member nations such as West Indies, Zimbabwe, and Ireland, who did not qualify for the 2023 ODI World Cup and now won’t have the opportunity to compete in the 2025 Champions Trophy.
In November 2021, the ICC had unveiled a slate of global events for both men and women in the new cycle (2024-31), including two editions of the Champions Trophy in 2025 and 2029. The ICC’s official statement indicated that the Champions Trophy would feature eight teams, following a format similar to previous editions with two groups of four, semi-finals, and a final.
Surprise twist: ODI World Cup becomes qualifier for upcoming Champions Trophy 2025
The decision to have the top seven teams from the 2023 World Cup qualify for the 2025 Champions Trophy was initially approved by the ICC’s chief executives committee before it was ratified by the ICC board.
In addition to the Champions Trophy, qualification pathways for various other ICC events were discussed and approved during the 2021 ICC meetings. For instance, the qualification process for the 2027 men’s ODI World Cup, which will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, includes the two Full Member hosts, South Africa and Zimbabwe, along with the eight highest-ranked teams as of March 31, 2027, and four additional teams determined through global qualifier tournaments.
Bangladesh’s captain, Shakib Al Hasan, highlighted the importance of this qualification during a recent interview. With Bangladesh’s semi-final hopes dwindling, Shakib stressed the need to secure a top-eight ranking, saying, “It is not a semi-final possibility. At least, do a little better. Suppose, you have to be in the [top] ranking 8 if you want to play in the Champions Trophy. So, there are still three matches left considering that in mind.” The teams in contention will undoubtedly intensify their efforts to secure their place in this prestigious tournament as the ODI World Cup unfolds.
