ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Australia Faces Major Blow as Cummins, Hazlewood, and Stoinis Withdraw from Champions Trophy
Australia Champions Trophy squad faces major changes with captain Pat Cummins and fast bowler Josh Hazlewood ruled out due to injury, while Marcus Stoinis announced his immediate retirement. Mitchell Marsh had already withdrawn due to a back issue. Australia will replace these players with emerging talents, including Tanveer Sangha and Spencer Johnson, ahead of their first match against England on February 22.
With the ICC Champions Trophy around the corner, Australia faces significant changes to its preliminary squad. Skipper Pat Cummins and fast bowler Josh Hazlewood have both been ruled out due to ongoing injuries. Cummins is still recovering from an ankle issue, while Hazlewood is dealing with a hip problem. These injury setbacks come on the heels of allrounder Marcus Stoinis announcing his immediate retirement from ODI cricket, which further complicates Australia’s squad.
Additionally, Mitchell Marsh has been withdrawn due to a worsening back injury. As a result, Australia will need to make four changes to their squad. To fill these gaps, emerging leg spinner Tanveer Sangha, Test squad members Sean Abbott and Cooper Connolly, and other players like Jake Fraser-McGurk, Ben Dwarshuis, and Spencer Johnson will join the ODI squad.
The team will begin their Champions Trophy campaign on February 22 against England in Lahore, followed by matches against South Africa and Afghanistan. The two-game ODI series in Sri Lanka, set for February 12 and 14, provides vital match practice ahead of the tournament. Australia’s Champions Trophy fixtures include semi-finals on March 4 and 5, with the final scheduled for March 9.
Australia preliminary squad:
Pat Cummins (c), Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.
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