Reigning ICC World Cup champions Australia have received a huge setback as captain Pat Cummins and pacer Josh Hazlewood have both been ruled out of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 tournament. The event is to be played in Pakistan and UAE from February 19 to March 9.
This means Australia will need to make major changes in their preliminary squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy, as this news coincided with the ODI retirement announcement made by all-rounder Marcus Stoinis.
Mitchell Marsh, ace allrounder, had previously been withdrawn from the squad as he fought to recover from a painful back condition that worsened during his recovery in recent weeks.
Cummins is still to recuperate from the ankle injury that affected him near the conclusion of the last Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series against India, while Hazlewood has acquired a hip problem following previous hip and calf strains.
Both fast bowlers will require extensive rehabilitation before being cleared to play again, casting doubt on their participation in the Indian Premier League, which follows the Champions Trophy.
Following the ICC event, Australia's next international men's commitment will be the World Test Championship final versus South Africa at Lord's in mid-June.
"Unfortunately Pat, Josh, and Mitch are managing some ongoing injuries and haven’t come up in time for the Champion’s Trophy. While disappointing, it does present a great opportunity for other players to perform for Australia in a world event,” national selection panel chair George Bailey was quoted by Cricket Australia.
Head coach Andrew McDonald, citing the speed pair's unlikely qualification for the Champions Trophy, has recommended Steve Smith and Travis Head as potential replacements for Cummins as captain.
As a result of the injury concerns and Stoinis' surprise announcement, a handful of more players will fly to Colombo for the two-game ODI series that follows the second Test in Galle.
Tanveer Sangha is with the Australian squad in Sri Lanka and will stay there for the ODIs and might become a traveling reserve for the Champions Trophy. Sean Abbott and Cooper Connolly will also stay on for potential involvement in the ODIs in Colombo.
Opener Jake Fraser-McGurk, seam-bowling allrounder Ben Dwarshuis, and left-arm paceman Spencer Johnson will also join the ODI team in Sri Lanka's capital for the February 12 and 14 games.
Australia's first game of the ICC Champions Trophy will be against England at Lahore on February 22. They have been placed in Group B with England, Afghanistan, and South Africa being the other teams.
They will play South Africa in Rawalpindi on Feb 25 and then Afghanistan in Lahore on Feb 28.
(Cricket Australia inputs)
