Australia squad for CT announced, Pat Cummins mystery not solved

On Monday, January 13, the Australian national cricket team announced a 15-man strong squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which will be played across Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.

Team Australia will be led by Pat Cummins in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 as he has been added to the squad and named captain, but his participation in the tournament remains under a cloud as the selector CA boss George Bailey had earlier revealed that the pacer has some ankle problems.

Read also: Steve Smith briefs Australia selectors on T20 comeback plan, eyes 2028 Olympics

3 big changes to Australia’s squad

Australia national cricket team emerged victorious in the last ICC 50-man World Cup in November 2023 and from this team, they have made 3 major changes.

Veteran opener David Warner has retired from international cricket, star all-rounder Cameron Green is currently sidelined following his back surgery and pacer Sean Abbott has been ruled out.

They have been replaced by Matt Short, Aaron Hardie and Nathan Ellis in the preliminary 15-man squad for the Champions Trophy. Notably, Jake Fraser-McGurk, who was seen as David Warner’s successor, has failed to make the cut after failing to impress the selection committee.

Meanwhile, opening pacer Josh Hazlewood, who is recovering from his calf injury, and all-rounder Mitch Marsh, who was dropped from the squad for the Sri Lanka Tests, have also been added to the squad for Australian Champions Trophy.

This is a balanced and experienced team: George Bailey

In an official statement released by CA, George Bailey stated that the selection committee has picked a balanced and experienced Australian team for the eight-team tournament in Pakistan and the UAE.

“This is a balanced and experienced team with a core having featured in the previous One Day World Cup, the West Indies series, last year’s successful tour of the United Kingdom and the most recent series home to Pakistan,” Bailey said.

“It offers a variety of options for tour management depending on the opposition and the conditions that may arise in Pakistan.”

Australia last won the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy in 2009 and will face England national cricket team, South Africa national cricket team and the national cricket team of Afghanistan in the group stage of the tournament on February 22, 25 and 28.

Before entering the competition, the same team will engage with the Sri Lankan national cricket team in a one-off ODI to prepare for the 50-over games. In addition, the Aussies can make changes to the 15-man squad up to a week before the first game, if necessary.

Meanwhile, the Champions Trophy was last played in 2017 in England and in that tournament, Pakistan emerged victorious by beating India in the final at The Oval.

Australia squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Preliminary squad: Pat Cummins (c), Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa