Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood likely to miss ICC Champions Trophy 2025, says head coach Andrew McDonald

Pat Cummins led Australia to the ICC Cricket World 2023 title.

Australia have suffered major setbacks ahead of ICC Champions Trophy 2025, with captain Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood major doubts for the tournament.

Cummins skipped the Sri Lanka tour for the birth of his second child and has also been dealing with an ankle issue that arose after the heavy workload in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Hazlewood, meanwhile, is recovering from a hip injury, which he sustained while also recovering from the side and calf injuries that kept him out of three tests against India and the entire Sri Lanka tour.

Despite their injuries, Australia had included both the pacers in their provisional Champions Trophy squad. However, coach Andrew McDonald has now shared a worrying update.

Cummins and Hazlewood likely to miss ICC Champions Trophy 2025

When asked about Australia’s ODI players not on the test tour, McDonald revealed to SEN on Wednesday morning that while they are set to fly to Sri Lanka on Thursday, Cummins is unlikely to be among them.

McDonald said, “Pat Cummins hasn’t been able to resume any type of bowling so he’s heavily unlikely.“

The Australian coach mentioned that pacer Josh Hazlewood is also unlikely to be part of the squad as well, adding that more details about their fitness will be available in the next few days.

He explained, “Patty is hugely unlikely, which is a bit of shame, and we’ve also got Josh Hazlewood, who is battling [to be fit] at the moment. So that medical information will land over the next couple of days and we’ll be able to shore that up and let everyone know the direction.“

Australia will begin their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign against England on February 22 in Lahore, followed by matches against South Africa on February 25 and Afghanistan on February 28.

Despite their success in ICC tournaments in the past decade, Australia have struggled in the Champions Trophy, failing to reach the semi-final of the last two editions.

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