England cricket team is in danger of missing out on ICC Champions Trophy 2025 qualification berth after their poor performance at the ODI World Cup 2023 as International Cricket Council (ICC) has added a fresh twist to the ongoing tournament in India.
According to an ESPNCricinfo report, an ICC spokesperson has confirmed to them that the top seven teams at the end of the league stage of the ongoing World Cup in India will qualify for the 2025 Champions Trophy, along with hosts Pakistan, to compete in the eight-team event.
And, defending 50-over World Cup champions are currently lying at the bottom of the points table after losing five of their six matches at the ongoing ODI World Cup and face a major risk of losing out on Champions Trophy.
The report added that the qualification system for the 2025 Champions Trophy was approved by the ICC Board in 2021, when the competition was brought back as one of the eight men’s global tournaments to be held in the 2024-31 cycle.
However, the development has come as a surprise to a few boards — both whose teams are in India as well as others who missed making it to the ODI World Cup — and said that they were unaware about qualification for the 2025 Champions Trophy being at stake in this tournament.
Not only England, but Bangladesh, who are lying at No. 9 spot also seem to be in trouble.
With his team almost out of the semi-final race in the ODI World Cup, Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan had spoken of the importance of finishing in the top eight.
“I mean, not the semi-final hope. 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,” Shakib said on Saturday, after Bangladesh were beaten by Netherlands.
The latest development also means that other Full-Member nations like West Indies, Zimbabwe and Ireland will not even have the opportunity to qualify for the 2025 Champions Trophy, by virtue of not having made it to the 2023 ODI World Cup.
