Australia captain Pat Cummins is "hugely unlikely" to be fit for the Champions Trophy, leaving the world champions pondering their captaincy options.

Champions Trophy 2025: 3 players who can replace Pat Cummins as captain in Australia Squad (Source:X/Twitter) Australia are one of the prime contenders to win the impending Champions Trophy 2025. However,

Steve Smith could remain in the hot seat as Australian captain with Pat Cummins "hugely unlikely" to play in the Champions Trophy.

Australia captain Pat Cummins is all but ruled out of the Champions Trophy while fellow paceman Josh Hazlewood is also a doubt for the ODI tournament, coach Andrew McDonald said on Wednesday.Cummins missed the test tour of Sri Lanka due to the birth of his second child but has been troubled by an ankle injury that flared up after the test series win over India at the beginning of last month.

Hyderabad: Australia’s 2023 World Cup-winning captain Pat Cummins is “hugely unlikely” to be fit for selection for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, according to the team’s head coach Andrew McDonald. The coach also said that there were doubts over availability of another star bowler, Josh Hazlewood.

Just a couple of weeks before the start of the ICC Champions Trophy, Australia have suffered a big blow as their skipper Pat Cummins is close to being ruled out of the competition. Australia coach Andrew McDonald dropped the bomb on Wednesday,

Cummins has been unavailable for Australia’s ongoing two-match Test series against Sri Lanka due to an ankle injury and the birth of his second child. Smith has taken charge and led Australia to a dominant victory in the opening Test in Galle, winning by an innings and 242 runs.

Australia's cricket team captain Pat Cummins has been dealt a massive blow with an ankle problem. Meanwhile, the injury has left his participation in the upcoming Champions Trophy highly doubtful. Coach Andrew McDonald revealed Steven Smith and Travis Head are in the running to replace the captaincy role.

"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," ICC quoted McDonald as saying on SEN Radio. "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 (Cummins) back home.

Australia captain Pat Cummins is "heavily unlikely" for the Champions Trophy because of his ankle issue. Steven Smith and Travis Head are in the frame to captain, while Josh Hazlewood is also battling to make it on time,

Australia captain Pat Cummins is "hugely unlikely" for the Champions Trophy because of injury while fellow paceman Josh Hazlewood is also a doubt, coach Andrew McDonald said Wednesday. "Pat Cummins hasn't been able to resume any type of bowling so he's heavily unlikely,