How Many Champions Trophy Titles Has Pakistan Won?

Pakistan will enter the 2025 edition of the tourney with a chance to defend their title successfully, as Australia did in 2009, hoping that home support takes them all the way.

However, the one-time winners will need to first navigate the group stages.

In the past, Pakistan has wavered between early elimination and the knockouts, but could use the first edition of the ICC Champions Trophy in eight years as a springboard to the ODI World Cup in 2027.

Pakistan’s Champions Trophy history

Pakistan has appeared in every edition of the ICC Champions Trophy since the inaugural event in 1998, back when the tournament was named the ICC Knockout.

Their record is a mixed bag of disappointments and notable performances.

Hosted in Bangladesh under pure knockout rules, Pakistan were eliminated by 30 runs in their first game of the 1998 Champions Trophy against the West Indies.

Two years later, in the 2000 edition in Kenya, Pakistan first knocked Sri Lanka out with a nine-wicket win, chasing down 194 thanks to Saeed Anwar’s 105.

Facing New Zealand in the semi-final, Pakistan was bowled out for 252, with Saeed Anwar top-scoring again, but the Black Caps chased this down to reach the finals instead.

During the 2002 Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka, Pakistan lost against the hosts, with a win over the Netherlands not enough to see them advance.

The 2004 Champions Trophy in England started off well for Pakistan, who beat Kenya by seven wickets and then India by three wickets to progress.

Shoaib Akhtar and Inzamam-Ul-Haq//Getty Images

However, the West Indies denied them once again, this time in the semis.

2006 was another dismal Champions Trophy for Pakistan.

Despite a convincing win over Sri Lanka during the tournament in India, losses to New Zealand and South Africa saw them exit in the group stage.

The tournament was then adapted to a quadrennial format.

Three years later in South Africa, Pakistan finally got revenge on the West Indies and also defeated India to advance, despite a loss against Australia in the pools.

The South Asians then met New Zealand in an intense semi-final clash.

Pakistan set a total of 233/9 in their innings, with Umar Akmal top-scoring on 55, but an unbeaten 75 from Grant Elliott helped the Black Caps to a five-wicket win.

Four years later in England and Wales, Pakistan hit a major slump.

Losses against the West Indies, South Africa and India saw them exit the 2013 Champions Trophy group stages without a single point.

In 2017, Pakistan entered the tournament as the lowest-ranked nation.

Pakistan’s 2017 Champions Trophy victory

During the 2017 Champions Trophy in England and Wales, Pakistan were under pressure early after an 124-run defeat to fierce rivals India.

Needing a win to have any hope of advancing, Pakistan faced South Africa, with the Proteas setting a total of 219/8 after an unbeaten 75 from David Miller.

In reply, Fakhar Zaman contributed a top score of 31 on debut.

Sitting on 119/3 after 27 overs, the game was halted and eventually called off due to heavy rainfall, resulting in Pakistan winning via the DLS method.

Pakistan then defeated Sri Lanka to reach the semi-finals.

Having reached the penultimate round twice before but never moving on, Pakistan met England in a mouthwatering clash in Cardiff.

The English were bowled out for 211 thanks to Man of the Match Hasan Ali.

In reply, Pakistan took just 37 overs to surpass England’s total, with Azhar Ali top-scoring on 76 to send his nation into their first Champions Trophy final.

This was also Pakistan’s first ICC ODI tournament final since 1999.

Then came the final at the iconic Oval in London against India, in what is said to be the third most-watched game in cricket history.

Pakistan were sent in to bat and posted a national record total of 338/4.

Fakhar Zaman, after debuting in the group stage, reached his first international ODI century with a Man of Match innings of 114 from 106 balls.

This was also Pakistan’s second-highest score against India.

Mohammad Amir and Hasan Ali then tore their way through the Indian batting line-up, with Hardik Pandya’s 76 from 43 his side’s only notable score.

After just 30.3 overs, Pakistan had bowled their neighbours out for just 158 runs, with Ali claiming his third wicket to wrap a comprehensive win.

Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Junaid Khan and Hasan Ali were also included in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy’s Team of the Tournament.

Fakhar Zaman celebrates reaching his 100//Getty Images

Impact of Pakistan’s 2017 Champions Trophy victory

After their win, Pakistan went from eighth to sixth on the ICC’s ODI rankings, signalling a resurgence in the 50-over cricket format.

Numerous young stars also staked their claim, such as Hasan Ali, who moved up to seventh on the ICC bowling rankings and became a team regular.

Likewise, Fakhar Zaman’s determination in the 2017 Champions Trophy final, going from being dropped on 3 to scoring a maiden ODI century, cemented his place in the squad.

Bazar Azam improved to fifth in the batting charts after the final and became a consistent scorer for his country and later earned captaincy due to his leadership.