Pakistan, the defending champions, has been knocked out of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 following back-to-back defeats to New Zealand and India. Their journey in the tournament came to a bitter end when New Zealand’s win over Bangladesh sealed their fate, ensuring Pakistan’s early exit from the competition before the knockout stage.
With their tournament hopes dashed, Pakistan will now face Bangladesh in a dead rubber on Thursday, which will be their final group-stage match. Despite the loss, the match holds little consequence, as both teams are already eliminated.
A Streak of Host Disappointments
Pakistan’s early exit adds to a list of host nations that have failed to capitalize on their home advantage in the ICC Champions Trophy. Over the years, several countries have hosted the tournament, but many of them have had disappointing results.
In 1998, Bangladesh was awarded the hosting rights to boost the sport in the country. However, as Bangladesh was not yet a Test-playing nation, they did not compete in the tournament. Despite devastating floods threatening the event, the tournament proceeded, with a portion of gate revenue donated to flood relief efforts.
In 2000, Kenya hosted the event but faced an early exit, losing to India in the pre-quarter-finals after an eight-wicket defeat. India’s Rahul Dravid starred with the bat, and Anil Kumble was named Player of the Match.
Sri Lanka took their turn as hosts in 2002. They topped their group and reached the final, but rain forced the final to be shared between them and India, with both teams declared joint winners.
In 2004, England hosted the event, eventually reaching the final but losing to the West Indies. India then hosted the tournament in 2006 but failed to progress past the group stage, finishing behind Australia and the West Indies.
South Africa hosted in 2009 but also faced disappointment, finishing fourth in their group and failing to advance.
The tournament returned to England and Wales in 2013, where India triumphed over the hosts in the final to claim their second Champions Trophy title.
In 2017, England hosted once more, but Pakistan stunned the cricketing world by defeating the hosts in the semi-finals and going on to win their maiden Champions Trophy.
The Disappointing End to Pakistan’s Hosts Campaign
Now, in 2025, Pakistan has joined the ranks of hosts who have fallen short on home soil. Despite the support from their home crowd, their performances against New Zealand and India were not enough to secure a place in the knockout rounds.
This early exit marks a continuation of a trend where the host nation often struggles to perform under the weight of home expectations. For Pakistan, a country full of passionate cricket fans, the loss is a blow to both the team and the supporters who hoped to see them lift the trophy once again.
As Pakistan prepares for their final match against Bangladesh, their focus will now shift to regrouping and building for future tournaments. Although they won’t be advancing to the knockout stages this time, their journey in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy will be remembered for the lessons learned along the way.
