Australia has suffered another setback ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy semi-finals, as batter Matthew Short has been ruled out of the tournament due to injury.
Short sustained a leg injury earlier in the week, forcing him to withdraw from the squad. In response, Cricket Australia has named Cooper Connolly as his replacement.
The 21-year-old Connolly, who has previously featured in three One-Day International matches, will now join the team for the remainder of the tournament.
The International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Event Technical Committee has approved the squad change, allowing Connolly to be included in Australia’s lineup.
The smith-led side faces India in Dubai tomorrow in the first semi-final, while New Zealand meets South Africa at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on March 5.
The final encounter of the Champions Trophy is scheduled for Sunday, where the winners of the two semi-finals will compete for the coveted title.
Australia finished second in the points table after winning against England, while their matches against Afghanistan and South Africa were washed out due to rain.
India, on the other hand, finished in the top spot after winning against Bangladesh, hosts Pakistan, and New Zealand to qualify for the semi-final.
