Champions Trophy 2025: Starc withdraws, Smith set to lead Australia
Champions Trophy 2025: Starc withdraws, Smith set to lead Australia
Mitchell Starc has withdrawn from the upcoming Champions Trophy, as Cricket Australia (CA) announced its final squad for the ICC tournament on Wednesday.
This means that the pace trio of Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood will be absent from the competition, which is set to begin on February 19 in Pakistan.
“Starc, who will not be commenting about his decision and has asked for privacy, looked to be in discomfort with a left ankle issue in bowling just four overs during Sri Lanka’s second innings of last week’s final Test at Galle,” a CA release said.
“We understand and respect Mitch’s decision,” chair of the CA’s national selection panel George Bailey said.
The absence of the high-profile pace trio has opened the door for next-generation quicks Spencer Johnson, Nathan Ellis, Sean Abbott and Ben Dwarshuis who have been named in Australia’s final 15-man squad for the Champions Trophy.
Australia has twice lifted the Champions Trophy in 2006 and 2009.
