Pat Cummins 'Hugely Unlikely' For Champions Trophy, Admits Andrew McDonald

Australia captain Pat Cummins is "hugely unlikely" for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, head coach Andrew McDonald has confirmed. Cummins is currently nursing an ankle injury, which was due to the heavy workload during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) against India at home recently.

In his absence, either Steven Smith or Travis Head will lead Australia in the eight-team event, which will begin on February 19. However, there was good news for Australia, as Josh Hazlewood is expected to return in time for the tournament after recovering from a hip injury. 

Cummins is missing the ongoing Test series in Sri Lanka due to the birth of his second child, and it is now certain that he will not travel for the two One-Day Internationals (ODI) as well. 

"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 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. 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 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."

With no Cummins and potentially Hazlewood ahead of the Champions Trophy, at least, it gives Sean Abbott an opportunity to prove his worth. Moreover, Australia are yet to name a replacement for the injured Mitchell Marsh, with Beau Webster expected to be roped in.

Australia are not short of pace bowling all-rounders as they already have Marcus Stoinis and Aaron Hardie in the 15-member squad. But both have had their share of injuries of late.

Leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha has been flown into Sri Lanka ahead of the second Test, but McDonald confirmed that it was only for development purposes. He is expected to be named in the reserves for the Champions Trophy, as he was for the ODI World Cup in 2023.

The two ODIs will be played on February 12 and 14 at the R. Premadaa Stadium, Colombo. Australia begin their Champions Trophy campaign against England in Lahore on February 22.