ICC Men’s Champions Trophy: Pat Cummins to lead
Two-time tournament champion Australia has named their preliminary 15-player squad for the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy, headlined by the return of their captain.
The return of Pat Cummins headlines Australia’s preliminary 15-player squad for the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025.
Cummins will lead the side in Pakistan, after it was recently confirmed he isn’t traveling to Sri Lanka with the Test side later this month due to an ankle problem.
Matt Short and Aaron Hardie have received their maiden squad call-ups for an ICC event. Quick Nathan Ellis has also earned a spot in the squad. The three players replace David Warner, who has retired, and Cameron Green, who is recovering from back surgery. Sean Abbott, from the squad that won the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, is also replaced.
Australia 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
The selectors rewarded Nathan Ellis for his strong Big Bash League form. He has been performing well with the Hobart Hurricanes, who have secured a finals berth in Australia’s domestic T20 tournament.
All-rounders Matt Short and Aaron Hardie will provide selectors with plenty of versatility in Pakistan. Meanwhile, Nathan Ellis is an effective quick who can excel in both opening and closing with the white ball.
Short has been a One Day International mainstay for the Aussies since Warner’s retirement in November 2023. Hardie, meanwhile, has represented Australia in 50-over cricket 11 times.
“It offers a variety of options for touring management,” said selection chair George Bailey. He emphasized that the choices would depend on the opposition and the conditions that may present in Pakistan.
READ MORE – ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 Final Squad
Australia, who last won the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy in 2009, will open their campaign against fierce rivals England in Lahore.
Australia’s Group Stage Fixtures:
22 February – Australia vs England, Lahore
25 February – Australia vs South Africa, Rawalpindi
28 February – Australia vs Afghanistan, Lahore
There were question marks surrounding Pat Cummins’ availability.
His wife Becky is due to give birth to the pair’s second child when Australia’s Test side tours Sri Lanka in late-January. On top of this, reports revealed that he carried an ankle issue during his team’s successful Border-Gavaskar Test series in Australia.
The selectors rewarded Nathan Ellis for his strong Big Bash League form. They also recalled Josh Hazlewood, who missed part of Australia’s Test series with India due to a calf injury. Like Cummins, Hazlewood is not traveling to Sri Lanka.
“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,” said Bailey.
Australia will look to end a 15-year ICC Men’s Champions Trophy drought, after going back-to-back in 2006 and 2009.
