Champions Trophy 2025: Three teams who might miss tournament following their dismal show in ODI World Cup 2023

England's recent defeat to Team India in the 2023 World Cup has brought attention to the 2025 Champions Trophy and its qualification process. Despite the qualification process being approved at an ACC board meeting in November 2021, this news wasn't promptly communicated to the public or media, leading to a lack of awareness among key team members. The process dictates that hosts Pakistan gain direct entry into the event, while the other seven teams' qualification relies on their standings in the ongoing World Cup.

This revelation occurred midway through Sunday, October 29, sparking discussions about teams potentially missing out on the prestigious event. With two weeks remaining in the round-robin stage, the focus is on teams ranking below the top eight, who may face exclusion from the Champions Trophy. India, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia are likely to secure spots, given their current top-four positions in the points table. The 2025 Champions Trophy, the ninth edition of the tournament since its inception in 1998, is highly anticipated. This raises questions about the three teams that might not make it to the 2025 event.

Netherlands

The Netherlands is on the verge of missing out on the top eight but can take pride in an unexpected qualification for the Champions Trophy. With two wins in six games against South Africa and Bangladesh, they currently hold the eighth spot, but their final three matches present considerable challenges. 

The upcoming matches against Afghanistan and England will be pivotal in determining their qualification, as these three teams vie for a top-eight finish. The Dutch team's final game against undefeated India poses a formidable challenge. However, there remains a chance that they could secure their first-ever Champions Trophy berth by winning just one of their remaining three games.

Bangladesh

Shakib Al Hasan-led Bangladesh side has underperformed in the ongoing World Cup despite initial hopes of a strong showing on familiar tracks. Off-field disruptions involving senior players like Shakib and Tamim Iqbal, coupled with a lack of enthusiasm, have led to disappointing results. After an initial victory against Afghanistan, they've suffered five consecutive losses, placing them second to last on the points table. Similar to England, Bangladesh needs to win two of their remaining three matches against Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Australia.

These opponents are favoured due to their current form. Ironically, Bangladesh achieved their best-ever major event performance in the 2017 Champions Trophy when they reached the semi-finals. Although surprises can occur, it's challenging to envision Bangladesh making it to the top eight based on its recent lacklustre performances.

England

Defending champions England are facing the shocking prospect of missing the 2025 Champions Trophy. Despite being considered favourites to win their second consecutive World Cup, Jos Buttler's team has been disappointed with a lacklustre performance. They currently sit at the bottom of the points table after losing four out of their six matches and having the worst net run rate among all teams. This is a significant setback for a team that has been a force in white-ball cricket and has secured victories in the previous ODI and T20 World Cups.

Their remaining matches, which include Australia, Pakistan, and the Netherlands, are far from easy. They will likely need to win at least two out of three games to secure qualification for the Champions Trophy, a competition they have consistently participated in since its inception. If they fail to do so, it would be an astonishing turn of events in cricket history.