Australia have replaced Matt Short with all-rounder Cooper Connolly in their squad ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final against India. The opening batter was ruled out of the ongoing tournament after he suffered a calf injury during the Afghanistan game in the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025.  Following the game, Australia captain Steve Smith had raised doubts over Matt Short’s participation in their semi-final.  “I think he’ll be struggling.

I think we saw tonight he wasn’t moving very well and I think it’s probably going to be too quick between games for him to recover,” he said after a post-match interview.  Australia have now confirmed that all-rounder Cooper Connolly, who was picked as a travelling reserve, will replace Matt Short in the Australia squad ahead of their semi-final against India in the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025. The young all-rounder has featured in six internationals for Australia, of which three have been ODIs. 

Australia squad:  Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha and Adam Zampa. It is to be noted that Australia finished second in the Group B and will face India in the first semi-final in Dubai on Tuesday, March 4. New Zealand will take on South Africa in Lahore on Wednesday, March 5.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)