Will Pakistan Win Champions Trophy? Host Teams' Performance In Tournament's History

Shaheen Afridi and Babar Azam - (Source:@TheCricketerMag/X.com)

The Champions Trophy 2025 is less than a month away from the start. Pakistan will host the tournament starting on February 19. The competition marks its return after a long hiatus of eight years, and Pakistan are the defending champions.

For the upcoming event, all eight teams are sweating hard in the nets, and the preparations are in full swing. Since 2024 was not the year of ODIs, it is difficult to pinpoint a clear favourite for the Champions Trophy 2025. However, several fans and cricket pundits are touting Pakistan as the favourites since they are the hosts.

Recently, Sunil Gavaskar also labelled Pakistan as the favourites because they have the hosting rights. Thus, this article will look at the host nation's performance in every Champions Trophy edition and has any host side ever won a Champions Trophy.

Has Any Host Nation Ever Won Champions Trophy?

For the unversed, Pakistan will host the ninth edition of  Champions Trophy. So far, in the previous eight editions, only once has the host nation lifted the Trophy. The incident occured back in 2002, when Sri Lanka and India were declared joint-winners after rain spoiled the final and reserve day in Sri Lanka. Thus, the Island Nation are technically the only team to have won the Champions Trophy as hosts. 

Let's look at how the hosts have fared in each Champions Trophy edition and who the winners were. 

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Host Nations' Performance In Every Champions Trophy Edition

Looking at the patterns of the host nation's performance in Champions Trophy, then only England have done well as they have finished as runners-up twice. However, India and South Africa, when they hosted the tournament, they crashed out in the group-stage only. 

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