Key points
- Pat Cummins will miss his tour to Sri Lanka
- Australia will face England on February 22 in Champions Trophy
- Pakistan is set to provide a world-class experience for players
ISLAMABAD: Australia skipper Pat Cummins is in doubt for the ICC Champions Trophy after it was disclosed that he had been managing an ankle problem during the Test series against India.
According to Cricinfo and local media, Cummins will miss the two-Test trip of Sri Lanka and will undergo scans on his ankle in the coming days to ascertain whether or not he will be able to lead his side in the ICC Champions Trophy, which will be held across Pakistan next month.
“Wait and see”
“We’ll have to wait and see when that scan comes back and see how it’s tracking,” chair of selectors George Bailey said. “There’s a little bit of work to do. We’ll probably get a bit more information around where that’s at.”
Cummins sent down 167 overs during the five Tests against India, the most by an Australian bowler, claiming 25 wickets at 21.36.
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Australia’s opening match of the Champions Trophy is against England on February 22, and they have a one-off ODI in Sri Lanka on February 13 after the Test series, which is part of their preparation.
Cummins captained the team to the 2023 ODI World Cup title in India but has only played two matches in the format since amid workload management, Cricinfo reported.
Renovations of stadiums
Australia have used a variety of stand-in captains in that period. Steven Smith led the side last season against West Indies before Mitchell Marsh had the role in England, with Smith again deputising for the deciding match of that series.
Earlier this summer against Pakistan, Josh Inglis led Australia in the final ODI in Perth.
Pakistan is gearing up to showcase its passion for cricket as it undertakes major renovations of its iconic stadiums in cities such as Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi ahead of hosting the ICC Champions Trophy.
With these preparations, the cricket-loving nation is set to provide a world-class experience for players and fans alike.
