A wave of star players has been ruled out even before the final squads for the Champions Trophy were announced, taking away much of the tournament’s excitement.
It’s not just one or two players—Australia alone has lost five key cricketers from their initial squad. Major changes had to be made before the final team announcement. The reigning world champions will be without their regular captain, their most experienced bowler, and one of their preferred pacers. Meanwhile, for India, losing just one player feels as impactful as losing five for other teams, and that one player is none other than Jasprit Bumrah!
Wednesday was the deadline for final squad submissions. Several teams made significant adjustments from their previously announced line-ups. With so many stars ruled out, the tournament, returning after eight years, has lost some of its shine.
Afghanistan
Last year, Afghanistan introduced another mystery spinner to international cricket—AM Ghazanfar. He made an electrifying debut, taking six wickets against Bangladesh in November and five more in his last match against Zimbabwe. In just 11 ODIs, he claimed 21 wickets, quickly becoming a key player for his team.
The 18-year-old was set to make his global debut at the Champions Trophy, but a lower-back injury has ruled him out. This same injury will also keep him out of the upcoming IPL, where Mumbai Indians had bought him for 4.8 crore rupees in the auction. In his place, left-arm spinning all-rounder Nangalia Kharote has been called up.
Australia
Australia will be without their regular captain Pat Cummins and their first-choice pace attack. Even when the preliminary squad was announced, there were concerns about Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. However, Mitchell Marsh was the first to drop out due to injury, ruling him out for the entire season.
Then came a shocking twist—Marcus Stoinis announced his sudden retirement. The experienced all-rounder was a crucial part of Australia’s plans. Soon after, it was confirmed that Cummins and Hazlewood would also miss the tournament due to injuries. To top it all off, veteran pacer Mitchell Starc withdrew at the last minute due to personal reasons.
As a result, Australia will field a second-string team, led by Steven Smith. Replacements include Jake Fraser-McGurk, Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Spencer Johnson, and Tanveer Sangha, with Cooper Connolly as a reserve player.
England
Young all-rounder Jacob Bethell had become an integral part of the England squad. However, after scoring a fifty in the first ODI against India, he suffered a hamstring injury, ruling him out of both the series and the Champions Trophy. Tom Banton has been brought in as his replacement.
India
India waited until the last moment for Jasprit Bumrah’s recovery, but their bowling spearhead ultimately could not make it. During the final Border-Gavaskar Trophy match in Sydney, Bumrah was unable to bowl in the second innings. It was initially believed that five weeks of rest would be enough for him to recover, but his condition did not improve as expected.
India has replaced Bumrah with Harshit Rana. Additionally, his absence has prompted changes in the bowling strategy, leading to Yashasvi Jaiswal being dropped for spinner Varun Chakravarthy.
New Zealand
So far, no New Zealand player has been officially ruled out, but concerns remain over two key players. Lockie Ferguson sustained a hamstring strain while playing in the IL T20 in the UAE, forcing him to miss the ongoing tri-series in Pakistan. Meanwhile, Rachin Ravindra suffered a significant head injury while taking a catch in a tri-series match last Saturday, ruling him out of the next game.
Both players remain under observation, with Ferguson’s injury appearing more serious.
Pakistan
On the same day Ravindra was injured, Pakistan’s Haris Rauf also left the field after bowling 6.2 overs. He was later diagnosed with a side strain and missed the next game. The 31-year-old fast bowler is currently being monitored.
South Africa
Persistent injuries have once again troubled Anrich Nortje, whose back issues have ruled him out of the Champions Trophy. Initially, Gerald Coetzee was set to replace him, but he too has been sidelined with a groin injury.
Bangladesh
Among the eight participating teams, Bangladesh is the only one unaffected by injuries or last-minute changes. Although Soumya Sarkar recently injured his finger in practice after recovering from a previous injury, the issue is not serious.
Players Who Were Already Ruled Out
The recent squad changes were made from the previously announced squads. However, some key players were already ruled out before that. This list includes Afghanistan’s Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Australia’s Cameron Green, and Pakistan’s Saim Ayub. Additionally, Bangladesh has opted not to include legendary all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who is currently banned from bowling due to an illegal action.
The Champions Trophy kicks off on Wednesday with Pakistan facing New Zealand. The following day, Bangladesh takes on India.
