Australia’s preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final have been hit by an injury setback, with opener Matthew Short sustaining a knee injury during their rain-affected match against Afghanistan at Gaddafi Stadium on February 27.
The injury has cast serious doubt over Short’s availability for the crucial knockout fixture, where Australia will face either India or New Zealand next week.
Despite securing their place in the semi-finals following the washout, the Australian camp now faces a selection dilemma amid concerns over the fitness of their key batter.
Australian captain Steve Smith admitted that Short was struggling to walk due to the injury, making his participation in the upcoming match highly unlikely.
“It doesn’t look great at the moment,” Smith said, expressing uncertainty over Short’s recovery timeline.
In response to the setback, the team management has named Jack Fraser-McGurk as a potential replacement should Short fail to recover in time. The decision will be finalized after further assessment of the opener’s condition in the coming days.
With the semi-final fast approaching, Australia will be hoping for positive news on Short’s fitness as they aim to continue their strong campaign in the tournament.
