Australia's preparations for the 2025 Champions Trophy have encountered a significant setback with the announcement that captain Pat Cummins and fellow fast bowler Josh Hazlewood will be absent from the tournament. The loss of these two pivotal bowlers presents a considerable challenge for the team, which has already been affected by the unexpected retirement of Marcus Stoinis earlier in the day.

Stoinis’ immediate retirement adds to the increasing pressure as Australia navigates several critical changes in the lead-up to the tournament.

The absence of Cummins is particularly impactful, given his role as captain. He has not fully recovered from the ankle injury sustained during the latter stages of the Border Gavaskar Trophy against India.

“Regrettably, Pat, Josh, and Mitch are dealing with ongoing injuries and have not been able to recover in time for the Champions Trophy,” stated George Bailey, chair of the national selection panel.

“While this is disappointing, it also opens up significant opportunities for other players to showcase their abilities for Australia in a world event.”

Hazlewood's injury issues have similarly excluded him from the squad, as he continues to struggle with a combination of hip, calf, and previous injuries.

The timing of these injuries raises concerns regarding the readiness of both Cummins and Hazlewood for the Indian Premier League, which follows the Champions Trophy. Their prolonged recovery periods may jeopardize their participation in this lucrative league.

Cummins' replacement as captain?

In response to the injuries sustained, Andrew McDonald, the head coach of Australia, previously recognized the strong possibility that the pace bowling duo would be unable to participate in the Champions Trophy, indicating a necessary shift in captaincy. With Cummins sidelined, the absence of leadership has prompted discussions regarding potential successors, with McDonald proposing two candidates who may be in contention for the captaincy.

"Steve Smith and Travis Head are viable options to take over from Cummins as captain," McDonald noted, highlighting the significance of maintaining continuity in leadership.

Furthermore, the ongoing back injury of allrounder Mitchell Marsh has already resulted in his withdrawal from the tournament, leading Australia to implement four changes to their initial squad.

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