Top 4 Instances when Host teams were first to be knocked out of the Champions Trophy ft. Pakistan in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy
The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy began on 19th February, and just 5 days from the beginning of the tournament, the host side Pakistan is on the verge of being knocked out of the Champions Trophy.
Pakistan is the defending champion and also the host of the ICC event after a span of 29 long years since the last World Cup back in 1996. Hence, Pakistan was called one of the favourites for the Champions Trophy; however, their probable exit would mark the fourth such instance in the history of the Champions Trophy.
Previous Instances of Host Teams Knocked Out from Group Stages of the Champions Trophy:
1. Kenya in the ICC Knockout Trophy, 2000
Back in 1998, the tournament began as the ICC KnockOut Trophy, which included every named nation by the ICC. Kenya was the host of the KnockOut Trophy in an attempt to increase the popularity of the game in the nation, with the matches being played at Gymkhana Club Ground in Nairobi.
Kenya was knocked out from the very first match of the tournament, which included a pre-quarterfinal game against India. This was the first time any team hosting the tournament was knocked out this early.
2. India in ICC Champions Trophy, 2006
After securing a win in the Champions Trophy in 2002, India hosted the tournament for the first time in 2006, while the Men in Blue shirts underperformed, thus losing a great bait. Australia was the eventual winner, placed in the same group alongside India, the West Indies, and England, and India was the first side to face a crushing exit from the tournament.
3. South Africa in ICC Champions Trophy, 2009
South Africa next hosted the Champions Trophy in 2009, when they were once again the third team to have been knocked out of the marquee ICC tournament. South Africa hosted the tournament but could not secure a single win on their home ground and were hence crashed out of the CT, with Australia being the eventual winners once again.
4. Pakistan in ICC Champions Trophy, 2025
The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is at an all-time high, especially with the defending champions and hosts Pakistan almost on the verge of elimination from the group stage itself. If New Zealand wins their encounter with Bangladesh today, then Pakistan is surely exiting the Champions Trophy today.
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