27 Years Of Wait Ends For South Africa; List Of Teams With Longest Gap Between Two ICC Titles

South Africa and India's win in 2025 and 2002 respectively (Source: AP Photos and @C@ESPNcricinfo/X.com)

South Africa's wait for an ICC trophy has finally ended, with a scintillating win over Australia in the WTC Final. It is a win that has opened up new frontiers for South African cricket, and after numerous heartbreaks, the Proteas have managed to cross the final hurdle.

The Proteas have managed to clinch an ICC trophy after 27 long years as their last victory in an ICC tournament came way back in the Knockout Cup of 1998. It is the longest gap between two ICC titles for any country, but other countries have also suffered from trophy drought in the past.

Thus, in this article, we will look at the list of teams with the longest gap between two ICC titles.

South Africa, New Zealand Find Respite Through WTC Finals Win

As mentioned earlier, South Africa have the longest gap between the two ICC titles. West Indies are second as they had to wait for 25 years after their 1979 World Cup win. It was the 2004 Champions Trophy win that ended their wait while the Kiwis stayed afloat from an ICC trophy for 21 years.

New Zealand won the Knockout Cup in 2000 and then got an opportunity to get their hands again on an ICC trophy in 2021 when they managed to beat India in the WTC Final. India are fourth in the list with 19 years of gap. Their first ICC title was the 1983 World Cup and after numerous attempts, they ended their drought in an unusual fashion, sharing the Champions Trophy title in 2002.

Pakistan follow India with 17 years of wait between two ICC trophies. They won the 1992 World Cup under Imran Khan and after coming close on a couple of occasions, they finally ended their drought in 2009 with a T20 World Cup win.

List Of Teams With Longest Gap Between Two ICC Trophies

Australia And Sri Lanka - 12 Years Of Wait In Different Time Of History

Sri Lanka are in sixth position in the list and the 2014 T20 World Cup win ended their 12 years of wait after Champions Trophy victory in 2002. The most dominating force in the ICC tournaments, Australia, also waited for 12 years between two ICC trophies at one point in time. The Kangaroos won the first edition of the 50-over World Cup in 1975 and then waited till 1987 to clinch another ICC trophy.

England are the last with 9 years of gap between two ICC trophies. In 2010, they won the T20 World Cup under Paul Collingwood and then managed to clinch the home 50-over World Cup in 2019 under Eoin Morgan.

The list shows how difficult it is to win an ICC trophy and all countries in different time periods have struggled to win consistently. Thus, it speaks a lot about the competitiveness in the world of cricket and South Africa would be hoping that they continue to do well and win trophies on a consistent basis.

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