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MELBOURNE : Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc has withdrawn from the Champions Trophy for personal reasons, leaving the squad without its three frontline quicks for the ODI tournament in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.
Former India batter Aakash Chopra has backed Afghanistan to surprise a few teams at the upcoming Champions Trophy, set to get underway on February 19 in Pakistan and the UAE. Afghanistan are placed in the group of death, consisting of powerhouses Australia, England and South Africa. Chopra feels Afghanistan have "unlimited opportunities" despite a tough group stage fixture list. He suggested that Afghanistan have a great chance of upsetting England, especially considering the latter's recent struggles against spin bowling.
Former Australia opener David Warner has backed the one-day World Cup holders to do well in the Champions Trophy later this month despite losing several key players close to the tournament.
Australian skipper Pat Cummins and wife Becky were blessed with their second child, the couple announced on Saturday. Taking to their official Instagram handle, Pat and Becky unveiled to the world, the first glimpse of their daughter, Edi. "She's here. Our beautiful baby girl, Edi words can't describe how overjoyed & full of love we feel right now @patcummins30," said Becky and Pat in their joint post. Earlier, Cummins missed out on the ongoing Australia's tour to Sri Lanka due to Edi's birth.
Reigning ODI World Cup champions Australia will have to make four changes to their preliminary squad for the Champions Trophy, after brutal blows on Thursday. After Marcus Stoinis announced a sudden ODI retirement, a report claimed that Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood has also been ruled out of the Champions Trophy due to injuries. Earlier Mitchell Marsh pulled out of the Champions Trophy due to back injury. "Cummins has not recovered from the ankle issue that plagued him towards the end of the recent Border Gavaskar Trophy Test series against India, while Hazlewood has developed a hip problem following earlier hip and calf strains," a report in cricket.com.au wrote.
Australia's seam-bowling all-rounder Marcus Stoinis has surprisingly announced his retirement from ODIs with immediate effect, bringing the end of his international 50-over career at 74 games. Cricket Australia (CA) said on Thursday that Stoinis will continue to be available for selection in T20Is, adding that his decision to retire from the 50-over format is to focus on T20 cricket. Stoinis' retirement from ODIs also means CA will replace him with another player in Australia's squad for the ICC Champion's Trophy.
Australia all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has been ruled of next month's Champions Trophy and is also in doubt for the Indian Premier League after that owing to lower back pain that has "not responded sufficiently to rehabilitation". Cricket Australia informed about Marsh's injury in a statement ruling him out of the Champions Trophy, which will be held in Pakistan and Dubai from February 19 to March 9. A few other reports suggest Marsh is also doubtful for the IPL.
Following their 6-wicket loss to the Paarl Royals on Monday evening, Durban's Super Giants can no longer qualify for the knock-out stages of this year's SA20 competition.