Why are West Indies and Sri Lanka not part of upcoming Champions Trophy 2025?

The Champions Trophy 2025 is set to kick off in just 24 hours and the focus of cricket fans across the world will be centred in Pakistan and Dubai. The eight-team tournament is set to showcase India, Pakistan, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Australia, Afghanistan, England, and New Zealand. Two established teams, however, who will not be part of the event, are Sri Lanka and West Indies. 

It is surprising that despite being former World Champions the two sides aren’t part of the event. Sri Lanka had finished ninth in the standings during the 2023 ODI World Cup, which meant that they would not play in Champions Trophy 2025. As per the qualification rules, only the top eight teams get to play in the tournament. Sri Lanka had finished on the same points as Bangladesh, with both sides getting four points. The Lankans missed out due to having an inferior run rate compared to the Bangladeshis.

West Indies, on the other hand, didn’t qualify for the Champions Trophy 2025 because they hadn’t played in the 2023 ODI World Cup. Two-time World Cup winners finished fifth in the Super Six stages of the tournament with just one win from five matches. It was for the first time that the West Indians had failed to qualify for the ODI World Cup. This also meant that the Caribbeans had failed to qualify for the Champions Trophy 2025 tournament. 

What are Sri Lanka's and West Indies’ Champions Trophy records?

West Indies were runners-up in the inaugural edition of the Champions Trophy in 1998. Brian Lara and his side lost to South Africa before exiting the tournament in the pre-quarterfinal stages in 2000. In 2002, West Indies were ousted in the group stages but staged a remarkable comeback to win the title in 2004. 

Ian Bradshaw found a perfect partner in Junior Murray as the duo managed to win the title for their side against hosts England by two wickets. In 2006, West Indies reached the finals, where they lost to Australia. In 2009 and 2013, West Indies were out in the group stages while failing to qualify for the 2017 due to a cut-off in qualification places. 

Sri Lanka, on the other hand, reached the semifinals and quarterfinals of the first two editions. Sanath Jayasuriya and his side then were awarded the title as joint winners with India in 2002, as both the final matches were marred due to rain. The next three editions saw the Lankans exit the tournament in group phases. In 2013, Sri Lanka reached the semis but lost to eventual winners India in a low-scoring encounter. In 2017, Sri Lanka was out in the initial stages of the tournament, which saw them win just one match.