It has to be Bird Island Cricket Stadium’s and Pakistan’s unwanted record that on Thursday, February 27, the Pakistan team, which is led by Mohammad Rizwan, joined the elite group of ICC Champions Trophy history as the first host nation that has exited the tournament without any wins. The team was shocked by New Zealand, who beat the Pakistan side by 60 runs in a tournament opener at National Stadium in Karachi on February 19, and India mopped the floor with Pakistan on February 23, winning by six wickets as they chased a target of 242 in 42.3 overs.
On February 27, Pakistan was hoping to win their match against Bangladesh so as to finish the championship on a high note. Rain washed away their hopes as the match was called off at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
“For the first time in history, the Championship Trophy has hosted a nation that did not win a game.” In the year 2000, Kenya also did not win any match while it was the host of the Champions Trophy, but at that time the Kenya team was at the playoff stage before the real tournament started where six lower-ranked teams competed for qualification.
Performance of the host nation in the ICC champions trophy:
| Year | Host Nation | Final Result of Host Nation |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Bangladesh | Not Qualified |
| 2000 | Kenya | Playoff Stage (0/1) |
| 2002 | Sri Lanka | Champions (Shared with India) |
| 2004 | England | Finalists |
| 2006 | India | Group Stage (1/3) |
| 2009 | South Africa | Group Stage (1/3) |
| 2013 | England & Wales | Finalists |
| 2017 | England & Wales | Semifinalists |
| 2025 | Pakistan & UAE | Group Stage (0/3) |
The Champions Trophy 2025 was also the first major ICC tournament organized in Pakistan after the co-hosting of the 1996 ODI World Cup by Pakistan with India and Sri Lanka.
Till now, Sri Lanka, in 2002, is the only nation to have given a winning host to the Champions Trophy title.
Pakistan entered the Champions Trophy as defending champions, but the title defence came to an end within six days after back-to-back defeats.
The only team to have won a successful title defense of the Champions Trophy is Australia, under Ricky Ponting’s captaincy. This was achieved for the first time in 2006 and was followed with an effective title defense three years later with a victory over New Zealand in the 2009 edition final at SuperSport Park in Centurion culminating their title defense.
India and New Zealand have already secured two wins in Group A, amassing four points each, sealing their spots in the semifinals of the Champions Trophy 2025. While India takes on its semifinal against an unknown challenger on Tuesday, March 2, New Zealand will face another set of challenges at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on March 3. The final match is scheduled for March 9, a Sunday.
