LAHORE: The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is set to begin on February 19, with eight teams finalizing their preparations. However, several teams will be without key players due to injuries and other reasons, forcing last-minute squad changes and strategy adjustments.
Players Ruled Out
Pakistan
- Saim Ayub: The 22-year-old batter sustained an ankle injury during the Test series against South Africa, ruling him out. His absence is a major setback for Pakistan, as he had already notched three ODI centuries in just nine matches.
India
- Jasprit Bumrah: The star pacer suffered a back injury during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia and couldn’t recover in time. Harshit Rana has been named as his replacement.
Australia
- Pat Cummins: The Australian captain is sidelined due to an ankle injury, with Steve Smith taking over leadership duties.
- Mitchell Starc: Withdrew from the tournament due to personal reasons, impacting Australia’s pace attack.
- Josh Hazlewood: Ruled out due to injury.
- Marcus Stoinis: Retired from ODI cricket to focus on T20s.
- Mitchell Marsh: Misses the tournament due to fitness concerns.
South Africa
- Anrich Nortje: Sidelined with a back injury.
- Gerald Coetzee: Ruled out after suffering a thigh strain during training.
Afghanistan
- M.A. Ghaznfar: The young spinner sustained a fracture and is out for four months.
England
- Jacob Bethell: The all-rounder picked up a hamstring injury during the India series. Tom Banton has been named as his replacement.
New Zealand
- Ben Sears: Suffered a hamstring injury during training in Karachi and will be replaced by Jacob Duffy.
