Nearly 10 players from different teams have been ruled out from the much-anticipated Champions Trophy — set to commence on February 19 in Pakistan — due to injuries.
Pakistan’s Saim Ayub, who suffered a right ankle fracture last month during a Test match against South Africa, has been excluded and is expected to remain out of action for more than a month.
Australia’s Pat Cummins (ankle injury) and Josh Hazlewood (side and calf injury) were declared unfit earlier this week, while Mitchell Marsh was previously omitted with a back issue.
Moreover, Australia’s bid to win the Champions Trophy was dealt another major setback when Mitchell Starc withdrew for personal reasons.
South Africa’s Anrich Nortje has been forced out of the Champions Trophy 2025 with a back injury and has been replaced by 30-year-old Corbin Bosch. South Africa also endured another setback to their fast-bowling stocks as right-arm pacer Gerald Coetzee was also sidelined due to tightness in his groin.
Afghanistan’s 18-year-old right-arm finger spinner AM Ghazanfar has been excluded from the tournament because of a “fracture in the L4 vertebra.”
England’s Jacob Bethell, who was dropped owing to a left hamstring injury, has been replaced by Tom Banton.
Meanwhile, in a major blow, India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was also ruled out of the squad for the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 due to a lower back injury he sustained during the final Test against Australia in Sydney last month.
