Pakistan’s title defence of the Champions Trophy did not go as planned in 2025, making it one of the worst performances by defending champions in a global men’s ODI tournament.
5. Australia, Champions Trophy 2013
Australia had won not just one but the last two editions, and were expected to make it to the semi-finals, even after they had little answer to Ian Bell’s 91 in the opener and lost by 48 runs. Rain intervened – as it did throughout that tournament – when New Zealand were 51-2 in 15 overs after Australia made 243-8 in their next game.
This left Australia in a position where they had to absolutely destroy Sri Lanka in their last match. After Mahela Jayawardene caressed his way to an 81-ball 84 not out, Australia needed to chase 254 in 29.1 overs to qualify. They went for it and quickly became 80-5, and left the tournament without a win.
4. Pakistan, Champions Trophy 2025
In 2025, Pakistan lasted one game fewer than Australia in 2013. Of course, they had to play their matches in two countries and had lost Fakhar Zaman two balls into the tournament (he did bat on one leg). At the same time, their curiously defensive brand of batting was of little use once it became evident that their bowlers could neither strike nor contain.
Chasing 321 against New Zealand, Babar Azam went into an inexplicable crawl, making 64 in 90 balls, and the match was conceded. Against India, they reached 52-2 in the powerplay and were 151-2 in the 34th over, but they could make only 241. At times, they looked the shadow of the team that won historic series in Australia and South Africa not too long ago.
3. Sri Lanka, World Cup 1999
In 1996, Sri Lanka had turned their batting order virtually upside down and relied heavily on spin in conditions that helped that brand of cricket. Unfortunately, the same formula did not work in England in 1999. England and India, the two teams they had outright thrashed three years ago, now beat them comprehensively. And while they had South Africa at 122-8, they had little answer to Lance Klusener’s late onslaught.
They did beat Zimbabwe and Kenya, but in 1999, Sri Lanka became the first defending champions to be knocked out of a World Cup before the theme song was released.
2. England, World Cup 2023
At least Sri Lanka had the excuse of a format where a couple of defeats dented a team’s cause significantly. In 2023, there was enough time for every team to make up for initial setbacks, but England simply kept losing. Of their first seven games, they won only one – against Bangladesh – and lost six. Several of these defeats, including a first against Afghanistan, were in one-sided contests.
Some consolation came towards the end when they defeated the Netherlands and Pakistan to qualify for the Champions Trophy.
1. Australia, World Cup 1992
At least Sri Lanka and England were playing away from home. That summer, Australia had trounced India 4-0 in the Tests, and won the Benson & Hedges triangular tournament that also featured India and the West Indies. In familiar conditions, the hosts were expected to lift the trophy.
Instead, New Zealand outplayed and outwitted them in the opener. South Africa, a few months since their return to the fray, demolished them, as did England and Pakistan. They benefitted from the much-debated rain rules of the era to beat India by one run. By the time they began their last match, against the West Indies, they were already out of the race.
Honourable mention: The World Cup 1996 quartet
Pakistan beat England to win the 1992 World Cup. New Zealand and South Africa were the defeated semi-finalists. In 1996, all four teams were pitted in the same group along with the Netherlands and the UAE. Predictably, all four teams qualified for the quarter-finals.
They all lost.
