Pat Cummins 'Hugely Unlikely' For Champions Trophy 2025, Two Possible Captaincy Options Put Forward

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Australia head coach Andrew McDonald has revealed skipper Pat Cummins, who is nursing an ankle issue, is 'hugely unlikely' for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled to be played in Pakistan and UAE from February 19.

Cummins was picked to lead Australia in the Champions Trophy despite being ruled out of the ongoing Sri Lanka tour due to the birth of his second child and also managing an ankle issue that worsened after a demanding Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

The ODI World Cup-winning captain Cummins missed the Test series in Sri Lanka, and was expected to link up with the side for the two ODIs before the Champions Trophy. Australia's ODI squad members, who were not part of the Test series, are set to fly out for Sri Lanka on Thursday (February 6).

However, McDonald indicated on Wednesday (February 5) morning that Cummins is unlikely to join them and also added Steve Smith, who is already leading the Test team in his absence, is being discussed as captaincy option along with Travis Head if the skipper misses the tournament.

"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."

McDonald also delivered more worrying news as Australia still sweat on pacer Josh Hazlewood's availability and a medical update in the next couple of days will be crucial to their plans.

"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," McDonald added.

Hazlewood, who was also named in the Champions Trophy squad, is currently nursing a hip issue after recovering from side and calf injuries that sidelined him for much of the India series and the Sri Lanka tour.

Sean Abbott and Spencer Johnson will be the likely options as replacements for Cummins and Hazlewood. Australia had already suffered an injury blow with all-rounder Mitchell Marsh being ruled out of the Champions Trophy with a back injury and is unlikely to feature in the domestic season.

Australia are yet to name a replacement for Marsh. However, coach McDonald confirmed that Beau Webster is a candidate for the ODI squad, despite being uncapped in the format, as they seek a pace-bowling all-rounder.

Aaron Hardie and Marcus Stoinis are already in the squad but have injury concerns. Australia will play two ODIs in Sri Lanka, starting on February 12 before they jet out to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, where they will open their campaign on February 22 against England.