England head coach Matthew Mott was unaware of the qualification scenario for the 2025 Champions Trophy until after his team’s 100-run loss to India in Lucknow. This revelation came as a surprise, as the ICC had confirmed the qualification process earlier on the same day.
During the post-match press conference, Mott revealed that he had only learned about the qualification criteria “about an hour and a half ago”. He also stated that the ICC “change the rules quite a bit with qualification”, but that he didn’t think it would affect the way England played in the remaining matches of the tournament.
England currently find themselves at the bottom of the points table, having suffered five defeats in six group stage matches. To secure their Champions Trophy berth, the team will need to win at least two of their remaining three contests. They clash with Australia in Ahmedabad, followed by matches against the Netherlands in Pune and Pakistan in Kolkata.
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The ICC’s decision to keep the qualification criteria undisclosed is surprising, as it is a major event. The Champions Trophy is a prestigious tournament that features the top eight ODI teams in the world. It is a major disappointment for England fans that the team’s qualification hopes came to light in such a manner.
England coach Matthew Mott in post match press conference said “We got to know about Champions Trophy qualification only one and half hour ago.”#INDvsENG pic.twitter.com/aSpES7cBpm
— Himanshu Pareek (@Sports_Himanshu) October 29, 2023
Jos Buttler, England’s captain, revealed that he was aware of the qualification criteria and that it provided added incentive for their remaining three matches. However, he also stated that he was disappointed that England had to learn about the criteria in such a way.
“It’s a bit disappointing that we had to find out about it like that,” Jos Buttler said. “But it’s just another incentive to try and win our remaining games.”
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It remains to be seen whether England can qualify for the Champions Trophy 2025. The team will need to find its best form in their remaining matches of the tournament. If they are able to do so, they will still have a chance to secure their spot in the tournament. However, if they continue to struggle, their Champions Trophy hopes will be over.
