Check out the complete ICC Champions Trophy history

The ICC Champions Trophy is currently one of the hottest topics being debated about in the cricketing fraternity. In 2021, it was announced that the ICC Champions Trophy will be returning in 2025 for the first time since 2017 and the 50-overs tournament will be hosted in Pakistan. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are once again very much firm with their stance and they have refused to travel to Pakistan for the upcoming ICC event due to security reason and the diplomatic conflicts between the two neighbouring countries. On the other hand, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are also quiet adamant about the fact that they are not ready to host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in a hybrid model. While the discussions are still going on about the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 venue and scheduling details, lets discuss about the history of the competition. 

Know all about the ICC Champions Trophy history

Interestingly, the International Cricket Council (ICC) introduced the Champions Trophy for the first time in 1998. During those times, the competition was called the ICC Knockout Tournament, also nicknamed as the 'Mini World Cup'. The basic aim of ICC behind introducing this tournament was to generate funds in order to transform the game in countries who were yet to be awarded Test status. Incidentally, South Africa were crowned the first-ever champions of the ICC Knockout Tournament after they defeated West Indies in the final of the opening edition of the competition hosted in Bangladesh. 

On the other hand, New Zealand won the second edition of the ICC Champions Trophy hosted in Kenya, as they defeated India in the finals by a margin of 4 wickets. Not many of the cricket fans would believe that two of the most underrated and unluckiest teams currently in the cricketing world, South Africa and New Zealand won the first two editions of the ICC Knockout Tournament. In 2002, the ICC introduced some changes and the tournament was switched into a round-robin format. Both India and Sri Lanka were adjudged as the joint winners of the ICC Champions Trophy 2002 edition after the final was called off due to persistent rain on the reserve day as well. West Indies won the ICC Champions Trophy for the first time in 2004 after they got the better of hosts England in the finale encounter. 

In a massive occasion, India hosted their first-ever ICC Champions Trophy edition in 2006 where Australia were crowned as the winners of the 50-overs competition as they outclassed West Indies in the final. Interestingly, Australia are the only team to defend their ICC Champions Trophy title having won back-to-back tournaments in 2006 and 2009. The Indian cricket team won the ICC Champions Trophy for the first time in 2013 after they defeated hosts England in the finals.

ICC Champions Trophy winners list

While talking about the most recent edition of the ICC Champions Trophy held in England and Wales in 2017. A total of 8 teams participated in the 50-overs tournament. Defending champions India had an outstanding start to their campaign as they defeated arch-rivals Pakistan by a pretty convincing margin of 124 runs. However, on the other hand, Pakistan made a definite comeback having defeated South Africa in their next league match. Both the subcontinental teams were performing exceedingly well in the competition. India got the better of Bangladesh in the second semi-final encounter in a comprehensive manner.

On the other side, Pakistan managed to register a sensational 8-wicket win over hosts England in the first semi-final match. While defying all the cricket predictions and majority of the cricket experts, Pakistan did the unthinkable and outclassed the Indian team in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 by a massive margin of 180 runs. Pakistan's swashbuckling opener Fakhar Zaman scored a wonderful century while left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir dismissed India's star batting trio of Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and skipper Virat Kohli in the penultimate finale encounter. 

What is the confusion surrounding the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 schedule?

After the horrific 26/11/2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, Team India have always been very much reluctant to travel to Pakistan. The bilateral ties between the two arch-rival nations also suffered a huge setback. Interestingly, the last India vs Pakistan bilateral series was held in 2012/13 in India after which both these teams only play against each other in the different ICC tournaments. It was very much obvious that India will at a certain point refuse to travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Despite majority of the international teams like Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka touring Pakistan in the recent few years, the Indian government have always shown their reluctancy to travel to the neighbouring country because of security concerns of its players. 

Incidentally, Pakistan were also the hosts for the Asia Cup 2023, however, the 50-overs competition was eventually hosted in a hybrid format with India playing all of their matches including the grand finale in Sri Lanka. Pakistan also travelled to India for the ICC T20 World Cup 2016 and ICC ODI World Cup 2023. The India vs Pakistan 2011 World Cup semi-final encounter was hosted in Mohali and all of these games were held in a pretty secure and safe manner. However, for the first time, the Pakistan Cricket Board are also pretty much adamant about their chance and the PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has cleared the fact that they are not ready to accept the hybrid model for hosting the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. 

"Pakistan will not keep participating in events in India while Indian authorities keep refusing to send their teams to Pakistan. Such an imbalance is not acceptable. Our stance is well known. We will safeguard Pakistan's interests," said PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. 

However, in the recent meeting with all the member boards, the International Cricket Council have clearly stated PCB are left with no other choice, other than to accept the hybrid model to host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 start date has already been announced and the 50-overs tournament will kickstart from 19 February, 2025 while the finale encounter will be played on 9 March, 2025. 

"Look, no broadcaster will give a penny to an ICC event which does not have India and even Pakistan knows that. The ICC meeting on Saturday will only happen if Mr Mohsin Naqvi agrees with the 'Hybrid Model'," an ICC Board source was quoted by PTI.

"If not, then ICC Board might have to shift the tournament entirely to a different country (could be UAE too) but it will be held without Pakistan," the source added.