ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Australia's Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood ruled out of the tournament

Australia will be without their regular captain Pat Cummins at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Australia have suffered a big setback just weeks before they begin their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign against England in Lahore on February 22.

After losing all-rounders Mitchell Marsh to a back injury and Marcus Stoinis to a sudden retirement, the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 champions now have been dealt another blow as captain Pat Cummins and fast bowler Josh Hazlewood have been ruled out of the tournament due to respective injuries.

Cummins hasn’t fully recovered from the ankle problem he had during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25, while Hazlewood is dealing with a hip issue.

With ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 final scheduled in June, it remains to be seen if the Aussie bowling duo will risk their fitness by participating in the Indian Premier League (IPL) starting in March.

Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Speaking to the media, Australia’s National Selection Panel chair George Bailey confirmed that Cummins, Marsh, and Hazlewood have not recovered in time for the Champions Trophy.

Bailey said, “Unfortunately Pat, Josh and Mitch are managing some ongoing injuries and haven’t come up in time for the Champion’s Trophy,“

Bailey emphasized that while it’s a setback for the team, it also offers an exciting opportunity for the youngsters to play in a major ICC event.

He added, “While disappointing, it does present a great opportunity for other players to perform for Australia in a world event.“

The list of absentees will require Australia to make four changes to their preliminary squad for the tournament. Several additional players will travel to Colombo for the two-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, which will offer practice before the Champions Trophy.

Australia’s group stage fixtures for ICC Champions Trophy 2025:

February 22: Australia v England, Lahore

February 25: Australia v South Africa, Rawalpindi

February 28: Afghanistan v Australia, Lahore

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