ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Australia get major blow

After announcing the Australian squad for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour, Cricket Australia (CA) is working on settling the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 squad.

Two-time ICC Champions Trophy winners Australia will start the 2025 edition as one of the favourites. Although the latest ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup champions failed to advance to the knockout stages in the last two Champions Trophy editions, the Aussies are desperate to regain the trophy. 

ICC Champions Trophy is set to return after eight years, while Pakistan will host the 2025 edition along with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has been added for Indian matches. Apart from the hosts and defending champions Pakistan and Australia, India, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh will participate in the tournament. 

See Also: Australian squad for the Sri Lanka Test series revealed: Steve Smith to lead the side

Pat Cummins doubtful for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Australian captain Pat Cummins, who led the team to win the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India, is doubtful for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. He has missed out on the Australian team for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour due to paternity leave. However, the right-arm fast bowler is also recovering from an ankle injury, which he was able to manage in the recently concluded home summer.

On the other hand, Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood, who missed three out of the recently concluded five-match home Test series against India (Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25), is recovering from his calf injury and likely to be available for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

In the absence of the skipper Pat Cummins, Steven Smith is likely to lead the Australian team in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. 

Australia won two ICC Champions Trophies

Australia won the ICC Champions Trophy in 2006 and 2009 under the leadership of Ricky Ponting and is the only team to successfully defend the title. Australia won their first ICC Champions Trophy title in the 2006 edition in India, where the Aussies beat West Indies by eight wickets (D/L method) in the rain-curtailed match. South Africa hosted the 2009 edition, where the Aussies won by six wickets against New Zealand in the Final.