Australian captain Pat Cummins may face a race against time to be fit for the 2025 Champions Trophy after suffering a suspected ankle injury following the Border-Gavaskar series. The fast bowler bowled the most overs in the series, delivering 167 overs, more than any other player.
Cummins, a right-arm fast bowler, will miss Australia’s upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka in the subcontinent, as he is expecting the birth of his second child. During this time, he will also be dealing with his ankle issue, which could keep him away from cricket for a while.
Australia’s chief selector, George Bailey, confirmed that Cummins will undergo a scan to assess the extent of his ankle injury. Bailey said, “There is a bit of work to be done on his ankle. I think he will have a scan next week or so, and we will get more information about his condition.”
Bailey expressed uncertainty about Cummins’ availability for the Champions Trophy in Pakistan, stating, “We’re not really sure at this stage. We will have to wait and see what the scan reveals.”
The Champions Trophy will begin on February 19 in Karachi, featuring eight teams competing in 15 matches from February 19 to March 9. Matches will be held across three venues in Pakistan: Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi, with Dubai hosting several key games.
The teams are divided into two groups: Group A includes Pakistan, India, New Zealand, and Bangladesh, while Group B features Afghanistan, South Africa, England, and Australia.
Host Pakistan will kick off the tournament against New Zealand on February 19 in Karachi. Australia will begin their campaign on February 22 at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium in a much-anticipated match against arch-rival England.