Australia’s left-arm pace spearhead Mitchell Starc has revealed that a lingering ankle issue and his "personal views" were behind his decision to withdraw from the Champions Trophy, despite being initially named in the squad.
The 35-year-old pacer, who played through discomfort in the recent Test series against Sri Lanka, made the revelation on the Willow Talk podcast, stating that while fitness was a concern, there were other factors influencing his decision.
“There are a few different reasons, some personal views,” Starc said. “I had a bit of ankle pain through the Test series, so I just need to get that one right. Obviously, we have the Test final coming up and a West Indies tour after that.”
Starc emphasised that his priority remained Australia’s long-format commitments, particularly the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord’s in June.
“There is some IPL (Indian Premier League) cricket as well. But the main one at the top of my mind is the Test final. Get my body right, play some cricket in the next couple of months and then be ready to go,” he added.
Starc did not elaborate on the personal views he mentioned regarding the Champions Trophy, which returns to the international calendar after an eight-year hiatus.
The tournament, organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC), is being hosted primarily in Pakistan under heightened security measures. The South Asian nation continues to grapple with security challenges, including insurgencies and a political crisis that has seen former prime minister and cricket icon Imran Khan jailed.
Controversy has surrounded the event after India refused to play in Pakistan, with the ICC permitting their matches to be hosted in Dubai. The arrangement has drawn criticism for disrupting the competitive balance, as other teams continue to travel within Pakistan for fixtures.
