Changes made in Australia Champions Trophy squad: Australia have been handed another major blow as fast bowler Mitchell Starc will also not be available for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 tournament that will be played from February 19 in Pakistan and Dubai (only India matches).
This means that Australia will be without their frontline pace trio of Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood that featured in their World Cup 2023-winning campaign, after captain Cummins and pacer Hazlewood were also ruled out due to injuries.
Check Out: Players who have been ruled out of the CT25
Why will Mitchell Starc not play in the Champions Trophy?
On Wednesday, Australia chair of selectors George Bailey confirmed that Starc has pulled out of the Champions Trophy due to personal reasons. The left-arm fast bowler who featured in the 2-0 Test series win in Galle over Sri Lanka has asked for privacy on this matter.
“We understand and respect Mitch’s decision. Mitch is deeply respected for his commitment to international cricket and the priority he places on performing for Australia,” Bailey said.
Before Starc, four other Australian players—three of them first-choice XI members—were ruled out of the Champions Trophy: Pat Cummins with an ankle injury, Hazlewood with a hip injury, and Mitchell Marsh with a back injury, while Marcus Stoinis, who was also named in the 15-man provisional squad, took a shock ODI retirement.
What are the changes made in Australia Champions Trophy squad?
Australia have made five changes to their provisional Champions Trophy squad. They have added Ben Dwarshuis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Spencer Johnson, Tanveer Sangha, and Sean Abbott, with Cooper Connolly as the travelling reserve, to replace Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood, Stoinis, and Marsh.
Australia Champions Trophy Squad: Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa. (Traveling reserve: Cooper Connolly)
Australia are placed in Group B alongside England, Afghanistan, and South Africa. They will begin their campaign against England on February 22 in Lahore, then play South Africa in Rawalpindi on February 25, before returning to Lahore to take on Afghanistan on February 28.
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