Massive Setback for Australia: Pat Cummins Likely to Miss Champions Trophy 2025

The Australia Cricket Team faces a big challenge as captain Pat Cummins is unlikely to play in the ICC Champions Trophy. According to reports, in his absence, star batters like Steve Smith and Travis Head could take charge and lead the Men in Yellow.

Australian coach Andrew McDonald has confirmed that Josh Hazlewood should be fit to bowl in the ICC event. In the meantime, Pat Cummins was not available for the Test series against Sri Lanka as his second child was born. But the latest report indicates that the star all-rounder has an ankle injury issue.

After Australia's dominant 3-1 victory in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Pat Cummins has been under workload management to recover from his injury. Meanwhile, players who were not part of the Test squad are set to fly to Sri Lanka, but Cummins is unlikely to travel with the team.

Andrew McDonald confirmed that Pat Cummins was still recovering from his injury and hadn't bowled in the nets yet. So two weeks in, for the ICC mega event, Australia now finds itself in the urgent task of seeking a new captain.

“Pat Cummins has not been able to resume any type of bowling, so he is heavily unlikely, which means we do need a captain,” McDonald told SEN, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

"Steve Smith and Travis Head are the two that we have been having conversations with while we have been building out that Champions Trophy team along with Pat back home. They will be the two that we look at for that leadership post. They are the two obvious ones. Steve has done a great job here in the [first] Test match. He has done some good work in one-day international cricket across the journey as well. So it is between those two," McDonald added.

"But, as I said, Patty is hugely unlikely, which is a bit of shame, and we have 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 will be able to shore that up and let everyone know the direction." McDonald concluded.

Australia's Provisional 15-Man Squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

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

Australia’s Group Stage Fixtures – ICC Champions Trophy 2025