Mitchell Starc Withdraws from 2025 ICC Champions Trophy; Steve Smith to Lead Australia

Mitchell Starc has joined the list of Australian players ruled out of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, following Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. Starc, one of Australia's premier pacers, has withdrawn from the tournament for personal reasons. The left-arm pacer recently played in the Test series against Sri Lanka in Galle.

With Starc’s absence, Steve Smith will take on the role of captain, leading a 15-member squad to Pakistan and Dubai for the tournament. Smith will replace Pat Cummins and Mitchell Marsh as the captain.

Starc’s decision not to play, combined with the retirements of Marcus Stoinis and the injuries to Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Marsh, has prompted the Australian selectors to include new faces in the squad. The squad now features Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Fraser-McGurk, Spencer Johnson, Tanveer Sangha, and Sean Abbott as replacements.

Additionally, Cooper Connolly has been kept as a travel reserve. Australia will begin their Champions Trophy preparations with two ODI matches against Sri Lanka in Colombo today and Friday. Their first match in the tournament will be on February 22 against England, followed by games against South Africa (February 25) and Afghanistan (February 28).