'Not a big deal': England coach makes stunning claim about 2025 Champions Trophy qualification

Matthew Mott, the England coach, disclosed that he became aware of the 2025 Champions Trophy qualification scenario when his team was playing against India in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup. England were defeated by the Men in Blue in Lucknow by 100 runs, leaving them at the bottom of the World Cup 2023 points standings.

3 things you need to know

• India defeated England by 100 runs in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023
• Team India remains the only undefeated side in the World Cup 2023
• ICC brought in a new ruling regarding the Champions Trophy 2025 qualification

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England coach unfazed by the new rule

In response to a question regarding England's prospects of winning the 2025 Champions Trophy, Mott stated that he was just made aware of the qualification scenario thirty minutes before to the press conference following the game.

“About an hour and a half ago. Well, the ICC do change the rules quite a bit with qualification and to be honest I don't think it would affect in any way the way we've played in this tournament so it's not a big deal,” said Mott.

As per the most recent rule by the International Cricket Council, the 2025 Champions Trophy will be played among the nations who will finish top 7 in ICC ODI World Cup 2023 group standings. Hosts Pakistan will get automatic qualification. This puts England, the reigning world champions, in a difficult situation as they are presently ranked last on the points table.

After playing Australia at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on November 4, England's final group-stage fixtures will be against Netherlands and Pakistan.

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On England's poor show in ICC ODI World Cup 2023

When discussing the areas where the team has to get better, Mott brought up the fact that they haven't been able to bat for the entire 50 overs in the majority of their World Cup matches. In 34.5 overs, India bowled England out for 129 runs.

“Well, yeah, I suppose the latest thing has been our batting, the thing that's gone wrong. There's no secret that we keep getting bowled out before that we get our full allotment of 50 overs. So that would be a big part of it,” Mott added.