South Africa claimed the first win in the ICC Champions Trophy, by winning it debut tournament in 1998.

South Africa in Champions Trophy

South Africa created history in ICC Champions Trophy, by winning its debut tournament in 1998 (then called ICC KnockOut Trophy). However, following its first win, the team failed to even secure a place in the finals, forget about winning the championship again. Thrice, it went till the semi-finals and once, lost the quarter-final itself. Let’s take a thorough look at the track record of South Africa, in ICC Champions Trophy, till date.

South Africa in ICC Champions Trophy

1998 - Bangladesh
Squad: Hansie Cronje (captain), Dale Benkenstein, Nicky Boje, Mark Boucher, Derek Crookes, Daryll Cullinan, Alan Dawson, Steve Elworthy, Jacques Kallis, Gary Kirsten, Makhaya Ntini, Shaun Pollock, Jonty Rhodes, Pat Symcox

Performance: Champions Trophy started on a good note for South Africa, which registered a win in its debut tournament itself. After defeating England in the first match, it went on the win the semi-final as well, against Sri Lanka. The team faced West Indies in the final and ended by beating it by four wickets.

2000 - Kenya
Squad: Shaun Pollock (captain), Mark Boucher (wicket keeper), Shafiek Abrahams, Nicky Boje, Allan Donald, Boeta Dippenaar, Andrew Hall, Jacques Kallis, Gary Kirsten, Lance Klusener, Neil McKenzie, Makhaya Ntini, Jonty Rhodes, Roger Telemachus.

Performance: Skipping the pre-quarter finals, South Africa went to the quarter finals of 2000 Champions Trophy right away. There, it beat England by 8 wickets and went on to play the semi-final, against India. However, it lost the game and with it, the chance to compete in the finals.

2002 - Sri Lanka
Squad: Shaun Pollock (captain), Dale Benkenstein, Nicky Boje, Mark Boucher, Alan Dawson, Boeta Dippenaar, Allan Donald, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Lance Klusener, Makhaya Ntini, Justin Ontong, Jonty Rhodes, Graeme Smith, Robin Peterson.

Performance: In 2002 ICC Champions Trophy, South Africa won the first as well as the second match, against West Indies and Kenya, thus reserving a place in the semi-finals. However, the team could not win the next match, against India, and was out of the tournament.

2004 - England
Squad: Graeme Smith (captain), Mark Boucher, Nicky Boje, Alan Dawson, Jean-Paul Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Lance Klusener, Makhaya Ntini, Robin Peterson, Shaun Pollock, Jacques Rudolph, Martin van Jaarsveld, Charl Langeveldt.

Performance: 2004 Champions Trophy saw South Africa beating Bangladesh in the first match, by nine wickets, but losing its second match, against West Indies. However, the single win could not secure the team a place in the semi-finals and it had to go back empty-handed.

2006 - India
Squad: Graeme Smith (captain), Jacques Kallis, Loots Bosman, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, Boeta Dippenaar, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Hall, Justin Kemp, Charl Langeveldt, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Shaun Pollock, Robin Peterson.

Performance: In 2006 edition of Champions Trophy had South Africa going till the semi-final stage. Though it lost the first match, to New Zealand, the next two wins, against Sri Lanka and Pakistan secured the team a place in the semi-finals. As the team lost its next match, against West Indies, it could not play in the finals.

2009 - South Africa
Squad: Graeme Smith (c), Johan Botha (vc), Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher (wk), AB de Villiers, Jean-Paul Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Albie Morkel, Makhaya Ntini, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Roelof van der Merwe.

Performance: The last edition of Champions saw South Africa lost agsinst Sri Lanka in the first match and win second against New Zealand, but losing its thrid match, against England. However, the single win could not secure the team a place in the semi-finals and it had to go back empty-handed.