Star Player Ruled Out of Champions Trophy Due to Lower Back Injury, Fans Disheartened

Melbourne (The Uttam Hindu): Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has been ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy starting in Pakistan and UAE from February 19 due to lower back pain and stiffness. Cricket Australia said on Friday, "The national selection panel and the Australian men's medical team have ruled Marsh out of the tournament due to an injury that has not been rehabilitated sufficiently."

His lower back pain had worsened in recent weeks, leading the NSP to decide on Marsh completing a longer period of rehabilitation. CA said Marsh will now undergo a period of further rest and rehabilitation as part of his return to the game plan. The NSP will meet to decide on Marsh's replacement when the time comes. Marsh, who lost his place in Australia's Test line-up ahead of the final match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign against India, has not played a match since his only BBL appearance for the Perth Scorchers earlier this month.

The deadline for finalising teams for the ICC Men's Champions Trophy is before February 12. With regular skipper Pat Cummins ruled out in ODIs and Tests due to an ankle injury and family commitments, Marsh was expected to lead Australia in the Champions Trophy. With uncertainty over Cummins' participation in the Champions Trophy, Steve Smith, currently leading the Test team, may take over as ODI captain, as Marsh has been appointed as the captain of the T20 team. Australia will begin their Champions Trophy campaign against England on February 22 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Australia's preliminary squad: Pat Cummins (captain), Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardy, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.