Pat Cummins Unlikely for Champions Trophy; Steve Smith and Travis Head Considered for Captaincy

Australia faces leadership and injury challenges as key players, including Cummins and Hazlewood, remain doubtful for the upcoming tournament.

Pat Cummins is unlikely to participate in the ICC Champions Trophy due to an ankle injury aggravated by a heavy workload during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Steve Smith and Travis Head are the leading candidates to captain Australia in Cummins' absence, according to coach Andrew McDonald.
Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood is also battling fitness issues, including a hip injury, with his availability for the tournament uncertain.
All-rounder Mitchell Marsh has been ruled out of the Champions Trophy with a back injury, further depleting Australia's squad.
Sean Abbott and Spencer Johnson are potential replacements in the ODI setup, with final decisions pending medical updates in the coming days.