David Warner ‘open’ to playing Champions Trophy 2025 ‘if selected’

Australian opening batter David Warner has recently expressed his willingness to play in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled in Pakistan.

The left-handed batter announced his retirement from ODI cricket earlier this year on the eve of his farewell Test against Pakistan. However, he did not rule out the possibility of turning out to play in the Champions Trophy 2025, only if the team needs him.

His last ODI was the final of the World Cup 2023, where Australia defeated India to lift their record-sixth title.

Recently, he once again expressed, through an Instagram post, that he is ready to play for Australia in the eight-team event, if the management selects him.

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“Chapter closed!! It’s been an unbelievable experience to play at the highest level for such a long period. Australia was my team. The majority of my career was at the international level,” Warner wrote on Instagram.

“It’s been an honour to be able to do this. 100+ games in all formats is my highlight. I will continue to play franchise cricket for a while, and I am also open to playing for Australia in the Champions trophy if selected,” he added.

Australia’s ODI and Test captain Pat Cummins has previously hinted at moving on and giving chance to young players, however, he did not completely rule out the possibility of Warner’s return, calling it an ’emergency option.

“I think it’s probably time to give some others a crack [in ODIs], but knowing that he’s going to still be playing cricket,” he said. “So it might be more of a kind of break glass in an emergency option. But, you know, David is going to be scoring runs somewhere in the world. So you never quite know that this is [the end].”

Warner has represented Australia in 161 ODIs, scoring 6932 runs at an average of 45.30 with 22 centuries and 33 half-centuries.

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