Dubai, Jan 13 (UNI) Two-time tournament champion Australia has named their preliminary 15-player squad for the ICC Men's Champions Trophy, headlined by the return of their captain.
The return of Pat Cummins headlines Australia's preliminary 15-player squad for the ICC Mens Champions Trophy 2025, according to an ICC media release.
Cummins will lead the side in Pakistan, after it was recently confirmed he isn't traveling to Sri Lanka with the Test side later this month due to an ankle problem.
Matt Short and Aaron Hardie have been included for their maiden squad call ups for an ICC event, while quick Nathan Ellis has also earned a spot. They are the three changes to the squad that won the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023, replacing David Warner (retired), Cameron Green (back surgery) and Sean Abbott.
Australia preliminary squad: Pat Cummins (c), Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
Nathan Ellis has been rewarded for strong Big Bash League form with the Hobart Hurricanes, who have locked in a finals berth in Australia's domestic T20 tournament.
All-rounders Matt Short and Aaron Hardie will offer selectors plenty of versatility in Pakistan, while Ellis is an effective quick that can open and close with the white ball.
Short has been a One Day International mainstay for the Aussies wince Warner's retirement in November 2023, while Hardie has also represented Australia in 50-over cricket 11 times.
"It offers a variety of options for touring management depending on opposition and the conditions that may present in Pakistan," said selection chair George Bailey.
Australia, who last won the ICC Men's Champions Trophy in 2009, will open their campaign against fierce rivals England in Lahore.
There were question marks surrounding Pat Cummins' availability.
His wife Becky is due to give birth to the pair's second child when Australia's Test side tours Sri Lanka in late-January. On top of this, it was recently revealed he carried an ankle issue through his team's successful Border-Gavaskar Test series down under.
Fellow quick Josh Hazlewood will also return to the fold, having been sidelined midway through Australia's Test series with India due to a calf complaint. Like Cummins, Hazlewood is not traveling to Sri Lanka.
"This is a balanced and experienced squad with the core having been involved in the previous one-day World Cup, the West Indies series, last year's successful tour of the UK and the more recent Pakistan home series," said Bailey.
Australia will look to end a 15-year ICC Men's Champions Trophy drought, after going back-to-back in 2006 and 2009.
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