In quotes – the ICC Champions Trophy over the years
They call it the mini World Cup, and it’s certainly that. With a short and snappy format where every game has some sort of context, the ICC Champions Trophy often brings out the very best in the players, and makes for exciting viewing.
Here’s a lookback at the tournament over the years through the words of some of the people who played key roles:
**“I don't mind repeating everything.”**MS Dhoni on what's left for him to achieve after winning the ICC Champions Trophy 2013 title in addition to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 and the ICC World T20 2007 trophies
**“God is not coming to save us. If you want to win this trophy we will have to fight it out.”**MS Dhoni says India didn't look at weather being its saviour in the ICC Champions Trophy 2013 final
**“If we had the secret recipe to turn it around, we would certainly have packaged it and be selling it. At some point we are going to have to try and cross the line. It's going to require some real charisma, some real guts and glory to get over the line.”**Gary Kirsten, South Africa's coach, feels South Africa needs to dig deep after its exit in the ICC Champions Trophy 2013 semi-final
**“The way I saw it, we should go back into the finals and meet India and then it would be perfect, we would just play a T20 and finish off the tournament, we are the T20 champions. It never happened.”**Marlon Samuels on what could have been had West Indies beaten South Africa in the ICC Champions Trophy 2013
**“That's the one thing you will get when you come to the stadium to watch West Indies play, you will be entertained.”**Ottis Gibson, West Indies coach, says one of cricket's time-honoured truths during the ICC Champions Trophy 2013
**“You're not going to be remembered for what happened in the warm‑up games. You're going to be remembered for what happens in the actual tournament.”**Alastair Cook, during the ICC Champions Trophy 2013, after Australia was bowled out for 65 in a warm-up game v India
**“In the past, our best was certainly the best in the world. If Australia played their best, no one could match them. And if they had an off day it was only just an off day.”**George Bailey feels Australia has to be on its toes in the ICC Champions Trophy 2013
“We are cheering for Pakistan as they play a day game. We will know where we stand when we go out. Hopefully Pakistan will win.”
MS Dhoni is cheering on Pakistan in its ICC Champions Trophy 2009 fixture against Australia as it gives India a better chance of progressing
**“We're all used to playing in pain, and the motivation has to be there to get up and play for the country. I am not 100%, it will hamper my fielding and if I get hit I will be in pain but the big picture is, why not come out and do something like Sachin [Tendulkar] did in 2003, something for my country which they will remember me for ages.”**Younis Khan is willing to push his body to the limit in the India-Pakistan fixture in the ICC Champions Trophy 2009
**“If Zimbabwe was not here for this tournament you might say Bangladesh shouldn't be here as well, but they've beaten Pakistan and Australia and you have to give them the opportunity. It's good for cricket on the whole and we just have to accept that.”**Brian Lara during the ICC Champions Trophy 2006 after West Indies beat Zimbabwe by nine wickets
“Other people can say what they like. People have got to remember it is not easy for a fast bowler in India.”
Glenn McGrath shoots from the hip when his place in the Australian team was questioned after beating England in the ICC Champions Trophy 2006
**“The silverware as such doesn't mean too much, but winning the event means a lot. It's not always easy to come to India and win tournaments, and we have managed to win a few in the last couple of years. We didn't sit back and wait for things to happen, we went out and made them happen.”**Ricky Ponting is elated after sealing Australia's first ICC Champions Trophy title in 2006
And looking ahead to the 2017 edition …
“It's so much better than scoring runs! I can see why some of the bowlers get so excited at times, because it's great fun.”
Joe Root says he might take his bowling a bit more seriously
“If the Champions Trophy was tomorrow, we're definitely ready.”
Kagiso Rabada is optimistic of South Africa's chances after the 3-2 ODI series win against New Zealand in March
**“I am not a weather man to tell you about the sort of climate you will get, but little experience that I have had playing cricket in England over the years, you can get five different kind of weather conditions in a single day.”**Chris Gayle on what the teams can expect in England
“There are eight teams that want to win it and can win it, but we do think we've got a very good squad here. I've got a good feeling about this one.”
AB de Villiers hopes to finally land an ICC trophy with South Africa