ISLAMABAD: Before 1998, the Cricket World Cup was the only major International Cricket Council (ICC) event in the One Day International (ODI) format, played every four years. However, Indian cricket administrator Jagmohan Dalmiya—known for his sharp business acumen—proposed the idea of a shorter tournament, the Wills International Cup.
The vision behind it was twofold: to promote cricket in associate nations, and generate funds for their development. Unlike the World Cup, this new tournament would be held every two years and played in non-traditional cricketing nations to expand the sport’s global reach.
1998 – Wills International Cup in Bangladesh
The inaugural tournament in 1998 was hosted by Bangladesh and was dubbed the ‘Mini World Cup’ by Wisden, a comprehensive annual cricket reference book published since 1864. It followed a straightforward knockout format, where each team had only one chance to stay in the competition.
South Africa emerged victorious, thanks to the all-round brilliance of Jacques Kallis, who played a pivotal role in securing their maiden ICC trophy.
The vision behind it was twofold: to promote cricket in associate nations, and generate funds for their development.”
However, the tournament faced a major setback—Bangladesh, despite being the host country, were not allowed to participate. This decision proved costly, as cricket-loving fans had little incentive to fill the stadiums, leading to half-empty venues. The lack of a local team raised concerns about ICC’s administrative foresight, despite the tournament achieving its primary objective: bridging the four-year gap between World Cups and generating a healthy revenue of $10 million.
2000 – ICC Knockout in Kenya
Kenya (the current host) were invited to participate, reinforcing the idea of global inclusivity. Once again held in the developing cricket world, this time in Kenya, the tournament’s direction became clearer—it was envisioned as a tool to expand cricket’s reach.
Kenya, a rising force in associate cricket, had already stunned India in 1998 and would later achieve the historic feat of reaching the 2003 World Cup semifinal—a remarkable testament to the potential of emerging teams. This edition highlighted why cricket needed to grow beyond its traditional powerhouses. Nairobi’s infrastructure saw upgrades, the pitch was well-prepared for ODIs, and financially, the ICC saw significant gains, earning $13 million—more than what it earned in 1998.
2002 – ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka
In the next edition, the tournament finally got an official name, but what unfolded in this 12-team event left the cricketing world with scratching its head. India and Sri Lanka played two finals on consecutive days, but monsoon rains in Colombo prevented a decisive result. Despite the ICC’s attempts to complete the match, the weather had the final say, resulting in both captains to share the trophy—an unsatisfying conclusion for fans and players alike.
The first officially named Champions Trophy ended without a clear winner, raising concerns about the ICC’s scheduling. Hosting the tournament during Sri Lanka’s peak monsoon season was a major misstep. Additionally, its timing—just months before the 2003 World Cup—diluted both its significance and the market value of the sport’s premier event.
The first officially named Champions Trophy ended without a clear winner, raising concerns about the ICC’s scheduling.”
2004 – ICC Champions Trophy in England
This time, the home of cricket, England, hosted the tournament, bringing it back to a traditional powerhouse after stints in developing cricket nations. However, the inclusion of smaller teams sparked serious debate. The USA, a potential market for cricket expansion, made its debut but faced a harsh reality check against Australia.
Their encounter lasted less than three hours, as Australia chased down the USA’s meagre 65-run target in just eight overs, making it one of the most lopsided matches in cricket history.
In the post-match press conference, Australian captain Ricky Ponting openly questioned the presence of teams like U.S.A. and Bangladesh in a tournament called the Champions Trophy. His remarks ignited a long-running debate about whether associate nations should be part of ICC’s elite tournaments—a discussion that continues to shape global cricket policies today.
2006 – ICC Champions Trophy in India
India, the world’s biggest cricketing powerhouse, hosted the next edition of the tournament, but the ICC’s ambitions for global expansion had already collided with harsh realities. Rather than eliminating weaker teams altogether, the ICC introduced a qualification round, allowing the top six teams to qualify directly while the bottom four fought for the remaining two spots.
This led to Zimbabwe securing a place, yet mismatches persisted, undermining the tournament’s competitiveness.
fThe strategy backfired as the one-sided contests continued, and the qualifiers—largely ignored by fans—with several matches having underwhelming attendance, raising concerns about the tournament’s viability. With dwindling spectator interest and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)’s growing indifference, the Champions Trophy’s future seemed increasingly uncertain.
Champions Trophy
2009 – ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa
Pakistan was originally set to host the tournament in 2008, but the ICC postponed it by a year before ultimately relocating the event to South Africa. By the time the competition finally took place, more than two and a half years had passed since the last 50-over World Cup, and the cricketing landscape had undergone a seismic shift. The ICC had introduced two T20 World Cups, and the Indian Premier League (IPL) had revolutionised the sport, ushering in a franchise-driven, gig-economy model that offered players an entirely new career path.
Despite these changes, the tournament proved to be a success, played on quality surfaces in a country well-versed in hosting global sporting events. The ICC’s ambitions for expansion had taken a backseat, allowing the top eight teams to engage in fiercely competitive matches. It was an era when Australia’s long-standing dominance was under threat, yet the Kangaroos’ tenacity and grit saw them rise once again at the big occasion.
Following the 2017 edition, the ICC shifted its focus to the World Test Championship and the booming T20 format, with various cricket boards launching their own franchise leagues.”
2013 – ICC Champions Trophy in England
With the rise of franchise cricket, T20 became the sport’s biggest attraction, leading the ICC to question the relevance of the Champions Trophy, which followed the ODI format. By 2012, there were strong calls to scrap the tournament entirely. However, it was given one last chance in 2013, hosted in England, where rain wreaked havoc, washing out multiple games.
While ODI tournaments are seen as vital for preserving the 50-over format, the 2013 Champions Trophy final was ironically reduced to a 20-over-per-side contest due to relentless rain. This raised concerns about the tournament’s purpose—if its marquee match had to be reduced to T20 rules, was it truly safeguarding ODIs? Since then, reserve day has become a norm in ICC tournaments.
2017 – ICC Champions Trophy in England
England hosted the Champions Trophy for the second consecutive time in 2017, sparking debate over why the tournament was awarded to the same host nation again. Meanwhile, Pakistan, ranked eighth in ODIs, barely secured a spot in the competition,
However, after a crushing defeat against India in their opening match, Pakistan staged a remarkable comeback. Hasan Ali, Junaid Khan and Fakhar Zaman delivered standout performances, guiding the team to the final. There, they produced a historic victory, defeating India by 180 runs, with Zaman’s brilliant century and Amir’s devastating spell dismantling India’s batting lineup.
Following the 2017 edition, the ICC shifted its focus to the World Test Championship and the booming T20 format, with various cricket boards launching their own franchise leagues. As a result, the Champions Trophy was put on hold. However, in 2021, the tournament was revived, and the ICC announced that Pakistan would host the 2025 edition, marking the country’s first major ICC event in nearly three decades.
