On Monday, January 13, the Australia National Cricket Team announced a strong 15-man squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which is all set to be played across Pakistan and UAE.
Team Australia will be led by Pat Cummins in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 as he has been added to the team and named captain, but his participation in the tournament remains under a cloud as the CA chief selector George Bailey had earlier revealed that the pacer has some ankle issues.
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3 major changes in the Australia squad
Australia National Cricket Team emerged victorious in the last ICC 50-over World Cup in November 2023 and from that squad, they have made 3 major changes.
The veteran opener David Warner has retired from international cricket, the star all-rounder Cameron Green is currently out of action following his back surgery and pacer Sean Abbott has been left 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They have been replaced by Matt Short, Aaron Hardie, and Nathan Ellis in the preliminary 15-man squad for the Champions Trophy.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 looked at as the successor of David Warner has failed to make the cut after not being able to impress the selection committee
Meanwhile, the premier 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, has also been added to the Champions Trophy squad of the Aussies.
This is a balanced and experienced squad – George Bailey
In an official statement released by CA, George Bailey stated that the selection committee has picked a balanced and experienced Australia squad for the marquee 8-team tournament in Pakistan and UAE.
“This is a balanced and experienced squad with the core having been involved in the previous one-day World Cup, the West Indies series, last year’s successful tour of the UK and the more recent Pakistan home series,” Bailey said.
“It offers a variety of options for touring management depending on the opposition and the conditions that may present in Pakistan.”
Australia last won the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy in 2009, and they will face England National Cricket Team, South Africa National Cricket Team, and Afghanistan National Cricket Team in the group stage of the tournament on February 22, 25 and 28.
Before heading into the competition, the same squad will lock horns with Sri Lanka National Cricket Team in a one-off ODI to prepare themselves for the 50-over games. Also, the Aussies can make changes to the 15-man squad until a week before the first game, if required.
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