• Pat Cummins will lead Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy scheduled from February 19 in Pakistan and UAE.
• Newcomers Matt Short, Aaron Hardie, and Nathan Ellis have been included in the 15-man squad.
• Australia is drawn in Group B alongside England, South Africa, and Afghanistan.
• Star players Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc will collaborate in the pace attack.
• The team comprises many who participated in the recent World Cup victory.

Australia has officially announced its 15-man squad for the highly anticipated ICC Champions Trophy, which is set to commence on February 19 in Pakistan and the UAE. Leading the team will be Pat Cummins, who recently missed the test series in Sri Lanka due to personal reasons but will return for this crucial one-day international tournament.

The squad features two fresh faces, Matt Short and Aaron Hardie, both expected to shine at their first ICC tournament. Along with them, Nathan Ellis is also included, marking a blend of youth and experience in the team that lifted the 2023 ICC World Cup trophy.

Fellow fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, who had been recovering from injuries, is back and will join forces with Cummins and Mitchell Starc to enhance the pace attack that has contributed to Australia's previous successes. Notably absent from the squad is Jake Fraser-McGurk, who has struggled with form recently. From the team that secured the World Cup, only three players have been omitted, reflecting a structured approach to team selection, as highlighted by head selector George Bailey.

“This is a balanced and experienced squad that offers a variety of options for touring management depending on opposition and the conditions that may present in Pakistan,” said Bailey. The Champions Trophy, which Australia previously won in 2006 and 2009, will see Australian players compete against formidable teams, including England, South Africa, and Afghanistan in Group B.

As the tournament unfolds, fans and analysts alike will be looking to see how these dynamics play out on the international stage. For further details on the tournament, visit the original articles from AP News and Reuters.