Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood were all ruled out while Marcus Stonis announced retirement from ODI cricket, forcing Australia to make significant changes in the Champions Trophy squad.

Australia are set to name Steve Smith as their captain for the upcoming Champions Trophy. Travis Head was in contention as well but as per reports, the selectors were impressed by Smith's captaincy in the recently concluded Test series against Australia.

Mitchell Starc has withdrawn from the Champions Trophy to leave Australia without any of its three front-line fast bowlers.

MELBOURNE (Reuters) -Australia captain Pat Cummins is all but ruled out of the Champions Trophy while fellow paceman Josh Hazlewood is also a doubt for the ODI tournament, coach Andrew McDonald said on Wednesday.

Australia made as many as five changes to their final squad for the Champions Trophy, set to commence next week in Pakistan. Some untimely injuries and Marcus Stoinis' retirement forced Australia's hand to mine their reserves to basically pick a whole new pace attack,

Mitchell Starc has withdrawn from Australia's squad for the Champions Trophy, citing personal reasons. His absence adds to the significant number of changes already made to Australia's provisional squad, which was impacted by injuries to Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Marsh, as well as Marcus Stoinis' retirement.

In Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood's absence, Australia will depend on Nathan Ellis, Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, and Spencer Johnson in the Champions Trophy.