By Zainab Shafiq 
The absence of Sri Lanka in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is a defining moment in the history of the tournament. Scheduled to take place between February 19 and March 9 in Pakistan and UAE venues, this year’s edition will be the first to be staged without the island nation, which infamously hosted the rain-soaked 2002 event and was co-holder of the trophy with India.
Qualification for the 2025 event was simple. Pakistan had secured an automatic entry as hosts, while the next seven spots went to the seven best-performing teams at the 2023 World Cup. Australia, India, South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, England, and Bangladesh all secured their places, leaving Sri Lanka, the Netherlands, and the West Indies high and dry.
What shattered Champions Trophy 2025 dreams for Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka’s non-qualification was most disappointing, as they lost a place to Bangladesh on the basis of their worse net run rate (-1.419) as opposed to (-1.087), even though both teams won two games each. The net run rate proved to be a determining factor in Sri Lanka being left out of the tournament.
Compounding the ire is Sri Lanka’s recent run of success in One-Day Internationals (ODIs). They have earned 15 wins in 20 games since the World Cup, including a 9-3 record under new head coach Sanath Jayasuriya. The streak included series wins against cricketing giants India, New Zealand, Australia, and the West Indies—each past Champions Trophy champions. Alas, none of this affected qualification, which was entirely based on World Cup performance.
This absence also puts Sri Lanka in the same category as former winners West Indies, who were champions in 2004 but did not make it to either the 2017 or the 2025 tournament. Hosts Bangladesh, in 1998, and Kenya, the hosts in 2000, also missed earlier editions, emphasizing how ruthless the Champions Trophy’s qualification process has been.
The lack of Sri Lanka will certainly be missed, for the team has been a perennial presence in the Champions Trophy ever since its arrival. Their ouster is also a grim reminder of how essential each game and run is for big ICC tournaments.
Also, see:
WPL 2025 Complete Schedule and Squads