England drop massive update on star player's chances of going to Pakistan for Champions Trophy, who suffered injury during series against India

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have come up with a massive update on Ben Duckett's fitness right ahead of Champions Trophy 2025, which is scheduled to get underway from February 19.

ECB provides fitness update on Ben Duckett ahead of Champions Trophy 2025

Ben Duckett has been declared fit and available for the Champions Trophy 2025 which came as a big boost for England team. Duckett had sustained a minor groin strain while fielding during the third ODI against India in Ahmedabad, a match where India posted a challenging total of 356. Despite visibly limping after the first innings, Duckett chipped in with a resilient 34-run knock in the second innings. However, England ultimately suffered a 142-run defeat, and ended up suffering a clean sweep in the ODI series.

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The injury concern for Duckett added to England's existing injury woes. They were already monitoring the fitness of Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse, and Jamie Overton. Furthermore, all-rounder Jacob Bethell has been ruled out of the Champions Trophy due to a hamstring injury sustained during the India tour, and wicket-keeper batter Jamie Smith is recovering from a calf injury. Despite a series of injury setbacks, the England cricket team received a massive boost on Saturday with the news that Ben Duckett has been declared fit for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The ECB confirmed that scans revealed no serious damage to his left groin. An official media release from the ECB stated that Duckett is fit and available for the eight-team tournament.

“Scans on a left groin injury have confirmed that England Men’s batter Ben Duckett is fit and available for the ICC Champions Trophy,” ECB said in an official media release on Saturday, February 15.

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The ECB also announced that Jos Buttler and the England squad will arrive in Pakistan on February 18, ahead of their opening match against Australia in Lahore on February 22. England's Champions Trophy campaign begins against Australia, followed by a match against Afghanistan on February 24. Following their matches against Australia and Afghanistan, England will conclude their group stage campaign against South Africa in Karachi on March 1. The eight-team ICC Champions Trophy 2025, a 15-match tournament spanning 19 days, begins on February 19 in Pakistan. India will play all of their group stage matches in Dubai, UAE.

England, led by Jos Buttler, enters the Champions Trophy after a disastrous tour of India. They suffered a 1-4 defeat in the five-match T20I series and were subsequently whitewashed in the three-match ODI series, in their Champions Trophy's dress rehearsal.

England's Champions Trophy squad:

Jos Buttler (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Tom Banton, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt, Mark Wood