Islamabad, Feb 6: Australia’s preparations for the 2025 ICC Men’s Champions Trophy have been dealt a severe blow with the news that star pacers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have both been ruled out due to injury. This latest setback compounds the ongoing challenges faced by the ODI World Champions, who are already grappling with the absence of Mitch Marsh and the recent ODI retirement of Marcus Stoinis.
Cummins, who also serves as the ODI captain, has yet to fully recover from the ankle injury he sustained during the 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, while Hazlewood is sidelined with a hip issue that has aggravated previous strains to his hip and calf. With a combined total of 281 ODI wickets, the pair would have been crucial for Australia’s attack in the challenging conditions of Pakistan and the UAE, where pace, accuracy, and reverse swing are key.
Cricket Australia (CA) has confirmed that both Cummins and Hazlewood will need an extended period of rehabilitation, with their primary focus now on returning in time for the ICC World Test Championship Final in June. The duo’s absence leaves a significant gap in Australia’s bowling unit, which has been a formidable force for years.
Australia, two-time Champions Trophy winners, have been drawn into a tough Group B alongside England, South Africa, and Afghanistan. Without their senior-most pacers, selectors will now have to call up replacements to fill the void. The updated Champions Trophy squad, as it stands, includes players like Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Glenn Maxwell, and Travis Head. However, four additional replacements will need to be named in the coming days.
Mitchell Starc will now be expected to lead the bowling attack, with emerging pace options likely to be given an opportunity to step up. Names such as Spencer Johnson, Sean Abbott, and Lance Morris are reportedly in contention for the replacements. With the Champions Trophy fast approaching, Australia’s selectors face a critical decision in shaping their squad to mount a strong title defense.
