Big blow for Australia! Pat Cummins 'unlikely' for Champions Trophy

NEW DELHI: Australia may need to find three replacements for their 15-member squad ahead of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan and the UAE, with skipper Pat Cummins and key pacer Josh Hazlewood unlikely to take part in the tournament.

The team has already suffered a setback with the loss of experienced all-rounder Mitch Marsh due to injury, and the potential absence of both Cummins and Hazlewood could further weaken their chances of securing a third Champions Trophy title. The 50-over tournament is set to begin on February 19 in Pakistan and Dubai.

Drawn in Group B alongside Afghanistan, England, and South Africa, Australia will be aiming for a spot in the knockout stages of the eight-team competition.
Australian coach Andrew McDonald on Wednesday addressed the latest injury concerns, revealing that a new captain might be required for the tournament if Cummins is unavailable.

"Pat Cummins hasn't been able to resume any type of bowling, so he's heavily unlikely, so that would mean that we do need a captain," McDonald told Australian radio station SEN.
"Steve Smith and Travis Head are the two that we've been having conversations with while we've been building out that Champions Trophy team along with Pat back home. They'll be the two that we look at for that leadership post.
"They're the two obvious ones. Steve has done a great job here in the (first) Test match (against Sri Lanka). He's done some good work in one-day international cricket across the journey as well. So it's between those two.
"But, as I said, Patty is hugely unlikely, which is a bit of a shame, and we've 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'll be able to shore that up and let everyone know the direction."

Teams have until February 12 to submit their final 15-member squads to the ICC. If Cummins and Hazlewood are ruled out alongside Marsh, Australia will need three replacements.
Australia great Ricky Ponting recently suggested uncapped all-rounder Mitch Owen as a potential replacement for Marsh during The ICC Review, while Sean Abbott and Spencer Johnson are among the pace options who could come into consideration.
Australia preliminary squad:
Pat Cummins (c), Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa