Courtesy: Google
Australian captain Pat Cummins is in doubt to play in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 after experiencing pain and soreness in his ankle following the conclusion of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) Test series against India. The 31-year-old is set to undergo scans on his troublesome ankle, and diagnosis of his fitness issue will decide whether he travels to Pakistan and the UAE to participate in the tournament next month.
As per the report published by Cricket.com.au website, the Cricket Australia (CA) officials are “unsure about the severity of the injury, or whether he will be fit to return for Australia's first match in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan on February 22.” Notably, Pat Cummins has been rested for the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka in Galle later this month, not only to manage his ankle pain, but also to be alongside his Becky as she is expected to give birth to their second child very soon.
Steve Smith will captain Australia on tour to Sri Lanka in absence of Pat Cummins
Australian chief selector George Bailey spoke about the ankle issue of Pat Cummins, but he didn’t give away any other information apart from talking about the captain’s impending scans. He was quoted as saying, “We'll have to wait and see when that scan comes back and see how it's tracking. There's a little bit of work to do. We'll probably get a bit more information around where that's at.”
Moreover, in the absence of Pat Cummins, Steve Smith has been given the captaincy of the Australian cricket team for their two Test matches against Sri Lanka in Galle, with the first one beginning on January 29. The second match of the series will start on February 6 before these two teams will be playing a one day international (ODI) at the Galle International Stadium on February 13 before heading to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025.
The first match in the upcoming ICC tournament for Australia in Group B will be against their arch-rivals England at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on February 22.
