Cricket
World Cup 2023: Netherlands’ Colin Ackermann says no team was aware of Champions Trophy qualification criteria
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Netherlands batter Colin Ackermann has claimed that none of the teams were aware of the Champions Trophy qualification criteria until the World Cup had started.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) introduced a significant change to the qualification process for the Champions Trophy 2025, which caught several teams off guard during the ongoing World Cup 2023. The ICC announced that the top seven teams from the World Cup 2023 would automatically qualify for the Champions Trophy 2025, along with Pakistan, who will host the event. This new system was approved by the ICC board in 2021 but was not widely known among all participating teams.
In the World Cup 2023, ten teams are competing to secure a spot among the top four in the ODI ICC World Cup Point Table. However, the stakes are higher as their performance also determines their eligibility for the Champions Trophy 2025.
ICC World Cup 2023: Full Coverage | Points Table |
England coach Matthew Mott had said earlier that he had learned about the Champions Trophy qualification during their loss to India. Netherlands batter Ackermann has now revealed that they weren’t award about the process till the World Cup had started.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference ahead of the Afghanistan game, Ackermann said that none of the teams were aware of the criteria. The Dutch batter said that their focus at the moment is now on the World Cup.
No, we didn’t know about it before the tournament. I don’t think any teams knew about it before we started. But we are here at a World Cup, we’re not playing the Champions Trophy. We first need to compete at this tournament before we look at the Champions Trophy.
When asked if Netherlands had turned their focus to Champions Trophy qualification, Ackermann said that importance is still given to reaching the semi-finals and feels three more wins should do the job for them.
“The focus is semifinal for us. We know that if we win our next three games, we’ll make the semifinal. That is our focus at this stage. We’re not interested in what’s happening in two years’ time. We’ve got a game to win tomorrow,” said Ackermann.
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