The ICC Champions Trophy of ICC (International Cricket Council) is the second most important event after world cup cricket. The champion trophy starts in 1998 with the name ICC Knock out Championship and from that day it has been organized by ICC every 2 years. In 2002 its name name changes to champion trophy. In first four events all 10 ICC members took part but from now on only 8 teams of highest ranked will qualify for the ICC champions trophy.
Format of ICC Champions trophy
The format of this Trophy is different as compared to World Cup. The Champions Trophy organized after two years, on the other side World Cup came after four years. For winning the ICC Champions trophy you should had to win almost every match in the tournament. Losing even a single match means exclusion from the tournament while in world cup the strategy is different.
In the year 2002 and the year 2004, 12 teams participate in the tournament and make four pools included three teams. The winner of each pool enters in semi-final. Each team had to play four games that mean two matches in its pool then semi-final and in the end final. In 2006 there is a change in the format. Now 8 teams played and make 2 pools of having four teams each. In this scenario, the first two teams of each pool will play semi-finals.
In early Knock Out championship the format is different from the current Trophy. knock out championship held with out any pools and which loose the match had to leave the tournament.
ICC Knock Out tournament 1998
In ICC Knock Out of 1998 the tournament was hosted by Bangladesh. The opening match of the tournament is between Zimbabwe and New Zealand. The winner of this tournament is South Africa.
ICC Knock Out tournament 2000
The host of the this tournament is Kenya. 3 qualifying matches played before the start of Quarter Finals. England, India, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Kenya reach the quarter finals. New Zealand and India reach the semi final and the final was won by New Zealand.
ICC Champions Trophy 2002
The ICC Champions Trophy of 2002 was hosted by Sri Lanka. Twelve teams included in this tournament. India and the host Sri Lanka reach the final. Final match is ended without any result that’s why the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy was mutually rewarded to Sri Lanka and India.
ICC Champions Trophy 2004
The ICC Champions Trophy of 2004 was hosted by England. 15 matches were played at three places: The Rose Bowl ,The Oval and Edgbaston. West Indies got the title.
ICC Champions Trophy 2006
The ICC Champions Trophy of 2006 was hosted by India. In this tournament a new strategy was Introduced. 8 teams were opposing in the tournament. The upper six teams were selected from the ranking first April 2006.West Indies and Sri Lanka qualified from a qualifying round
The total 8 teams were divided into 2 groups. For semifinals West Indies and Australia came from Group A, New Zealand and South Africa from Group B. In Semi Finals West Indies and Australia defeat South Africa and New Zealand, respectively. Australia and West Indies reached the final. Final match won by Australia.
ICC Champions Trophy 2009
After the champion trophy of 2006, the ICC gave the name of Pakistan for hosting the ICC Champions Trophy of 2008. 24th August 2008 ICC declared that the Champions Trophy of 2008 which was hosted by Pakistan has been delayed to next year because some countries were unwilling to came Pakistan due to security reasons.
16 March 2009, ICC Confirm that ICC champions trophy has been moved to south Africa. Champions trophy started on 24 September and Ended at 5th October, 2009. First Semi finals were between Australia and England and second one between Pakistan and New Zealand. Australia and New Zealand came in to Finals and Australia Beat the New Zealand by 6 wickets.
ICC Champions Trophy 2013
2013 Champions Trophy was hosted by Wales and England. Final match of this series took place on 23 June, 2013 between England and India. India Won the Final by 5 runs. Indian Captain MS Dhoni becomes the first caption in history who had win all three major ICC Trophy.
ICC Champions Trophy 2017
In 2013 ICC announced that this is the last champions trophy. They want to start a Test championship but due to massive success of 2013 series the decision was revered and ICC confirmed that ICC champions trophy 2017 will took place.
England and wales Also hosted this event. The Final of the tournament took place in Oval Ground Between arch-rivals India and Pakistan. Although Indian team was favorite in this tournament but Pakistan Won the final very comfortably by 180 runs.