In 1998, ICC changed the name of Knockout Tournament to Champions Trophy. It is played in 50- over format. The first tournament was played in 1998and was continued to be played and held after every alternative year. But the format of the Champions Trophy gradually kept changing over the period of time. Since the beginnings of the tournament in 2009& till the present, it is been played every fourth coming year. England & Wales hosted the latest edition in 2017.
The current champions are Pakistan. International Cricket Council (ICC) has all the rights to perform the tournaments. ICC is an International Organisation that looks after the management and smooth conduct of tournaments under their Governance. It has the One Day International (ODI) format. Here is the list of
Top 10 Moments in ICC Champions Trophy
1. England Vs India
It was the final match between England and India in 2003. The match was to be played at Edgbaston, but the rain spoiled the play and the match was declared to 20 overs. Initially, India lost their wickets very early and at last Ravindra Jadeja somehow managed and took the team to a total of 129/7. Virat Kohli scored 43 runs.
England came to bat, and it was 46/4 and the partnership between Ravi Bopara and Morgan of 64 runs was huge. But Dhoni changed the bowling and brought Ishant Sharma and he took both the wickets of Bopara and Morgan in the 18th over and finally India won the match by 5 runs.
2. New Zealand Vs Sri Lanka
The match was played between New Zealand and Sri Lanka and it was a low-scoring match, and the low-scoring matches are always triller. The paces from both the side were looking in a good form. Sri Lanka batted first and only Kumar Sangakkara scored 68 runs and somehow team reached a total of 139 runs.
Mitchell McClenaghan took 4 wickets. On the other side, Lasith Malinga was in a good form and his spell proved out to be something different and took early wickets and finally, New Zealand won the match by 1 wicket with 81 balls remaining.
3. Australia Vs New Zealand
It was the final match between Australia and New Zealand. Australia was in good form and Shane Watson too. Shane Watson had already made his team lift the Champions title in 2006 and was also awarded the Man of the Match title. New Zealand came to bat, and they were restricted on 200 runs.
Now the load was on Mills and Shane Bond who can threaten the Australian batsmen. While mills took Ricky Ponting and Hussey very early. But the partnership between Watson and Cameron White was brilliant and Australia won it by 6 wickets.
4. Australia Vs Pakistan
It was the match between Australia and Pakistan in the 2009 Champions Trophy. It was a very close and interesting battle between these two teams. The Australians were cruising at 140/2 and the partnership between Tim Paine and Watson of 44 runs and 81 runs partnership between Hussey & Ponting.
On the other side, the bowling by Saeed Ajmal and Md Asif was also very destructive. They both took 6 wickets and gave just 47 runs. In the last over 5 runs were required, but Umar Gul made it very difficult but somehow Brett Lee and Hauritz made it to the victory.
5. Australia Vs West Indies
The match between Australia and West Indies was played in the 2006 edition of the Champions Trophy. It was the fantastic match between these teams. West Indies were in good form and the Brian Lara and Morton made 137 runs.
On the other side, Adam Gilchrist made whooping 92 runs and had a good partnership with Clarke. But the hat-trick taken by Jerome Taylor changed the game and West Indies won by 10 runs.
6. England Vs West Indies
The match between England and West Indies was played in the 2009 edition of Champions Trophy. Both the teams were in good form. Browne and Bradshaw both played beautifully. England batsmen also played really well and built a good partnership of 71 runs. England reached very close to victory but at last the West Indies bowler attacked them beautifully and finally won it by 2 wickets.
7. India Vs South Africa
It was the semi-final match between India and South Africa in 2002. It can be said that the title was shared between both the team because the game was interrupted twice. Virendra Sehwag was in good form and smashed 59 runs, after his dismissal Rahul Dravid scored 49 runs and Yuvraj Singh scored 62 runs.
South African Herschelle Gibbs scored a wonderful Century. Harbhajan Singh came into the attack and took Jonty Rhodes and Boeta wicket very early. At last, Sehwag came with him and took a final win over South Africa.
8. India Vs New Zealand
The final match of ICC Champions Trophy 2000 edition between India and New Zealand. Both the teams mainly consist of youngsters. Sourav Ganguly as a captain scored a century and Sachin Tendulkar scored 69 runs and reached a total of 264 runs.
While India’s bowling unit bowled very well and dismissed New Zealand’s top-order batsmen. But the other batsmen hold their spell very tight and finally made their team win with the two balls to spare.
9. Australia Vs India
The match between Australia and India was played in 2000. The youngster players took the charge and played really well. Yuvraj Singh was in terrible form and made a runout, which dismissed the partnership of 73 runs between Ricky Ponting and Bevan. The young Zaheer Khan dismissed the openers, Adam Gilchrist and Steve Waugh. Finally, India won it by 20 runs.
10. South Africa Vs West Indies
It was the final match between South Africa and West Indies, played in the 1998 edition of the Champions Trophy. It was a very tough battle between them. West Indies were in good form and Philo Wallace scored 103 runs. But when Jacques Kallis came out to bowl, he took 5 wickets and gave only 30 runs. Finally, South Africa lifted the trophy and won by 4 wickets.
