Sri Lanka's current ICC ODI ranking of fifth globally isn't enough to secure them a spot in the 2025 Champions Trophy. The reason for the same is the tournament qualification criteria which does not take into consideration their current form. Qualification system The tournament's entry requirements, anchored to 2023 World Cup performance rather than current rankings, have left Sri Lanka out of the prestigious eight-team event. While Pakistan gained automatic entry as hosts, the remaining spots were allocated to the top seven teams from 2023 ODI World Cup – Australia, India, South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, England, and Bangladesh. Impact of World Cup performance on Champions Trophy Sri Lanka's Champions Trophy hopes were dashed during the 2023 World Cup when they finished below Bangladesh in the standings. Both nations, along with the Netherlands, secured two victories each, but Bangladesh's superior net run rate of -1.087, compared to Sri Lanka's -1.419, proved decisive for the final qualification spot. Post World Cup resurgence The exclusion appears more striking given Sri Lanka's remarkable turnaround since the World Cup. Under Sanath Jayasuriya's coaching tenure, they've compiled an impressive 9-3 record, including series victories against former Champions Trophy winners India, West Indies, New Zealand and Australia. Their overall post-World Cup record stands at 15 wins from 20 matches. Historic significance This marks the first Champions Trophy without Sri Lanka since the tournament's inception. The 2002 co-champions join West Indies, Zimbabwe and Ireland as Full Members absent from the 2025 edition, scheduled for February 19 to March 9 across venues in Pakistan and the UAE. Only six teams – Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Africa – will maintain their perfect attendance record in the tournament's nine editions when the Champions Trophy returns after a seven-and-a-half-year hiatus. Sri Lanka's recent 2-0 triumph over Australia underscores their current competitive form, making their absence from the tournament particularly notable. However, their improved ranking and recent successes came after the qualification window had closed.Original Article