The ICC Champions Trophy 2025, set to commence in Pakistan and the UAE from February 19, faces a significant setback as multiple teams grapple with player unavailability, primarily due to injuries. Australian contingent hit hardest The reigning world champions face the most severe blow, with five key players missing the tournament. The Australian camp's concerns centre around captain Pat Cummins, seasoned pacer Josh Hazlewood and all-rounder Cameron Green. Adding to their woes, Mitchell Marsh's back injury and Marcus Stoinis's recent ODI retirement have further depleted their resources. Pace department under strain South Africa's pace artillery faces similar challenges, with premier fast bowler Anrich Nortje and emerging talent Gerald Coetzee ruled out. India's spearhead Jasprit Bumrah remains doubtful with his back injury requiring careful management ahead of the tournament. Subcontinent teams' availability concerns Bangladesh will miss the experience of veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan who faces an international bowling ban while Tamil Iqbal confirmed his retirement. Meanwhile, Pakistan's young prospect Saim Ayub joins the list of absentees. Afghanistan's spin department takes a hit with Mujeeb Ur Rahman's unavailability. Tournament structure The 15-match tournament, Pakistan's first major ICC event since 1996, features eight teams split into two groups: Group A: Group B: Teams have until February 11 to finalise their 15-member squads, with England already announcing their roster on December 22. The tournament, running until March 9, will see the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals. Notable absentees Sri Lanka and West Indies failed to qualify for this edition, having finished below the cut-off in the 2023 ODI World Cup rankings.Original Article