In a significant setback for Australias hopes of clinching the Champions Trophy prominent allrounder Mitchell Marsh has been sidelined from the tournament due to a back injury as reported by ESPNCricinfo. There is a possibility that he may not return to play this season raising concerns about his involvement with the Lucknow Super Giants who acquired him for Rs 3.4 crore. Marsh has faced a challenging season and has been replaced by Beau Webster for the last Test match against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground. He scored a total of 73 runs in seven innings and contributed modestly with the ball during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Marshs physical condition was frequently mentioned throughout the five-Test series and he did not perform optimally with either bat or ball. His ongoing back issues have led the selection committee headed by George Bailey to exclude him from the Champions Trophy. Mitchell Marsh has been ruled out of the upcoming ICC Mens Champions Trophy with ongoing lower back pain and dysfunction Cricket Australia said in a statement released on Friday. The National Selection Panel and Australian mens medical team ruled Marsh out of the tournament with the injury which has not responded sufficiently to rehabilitation the statement added. Due to ODI and Test captain Pat Cummins dealing with an ankle injury and attending the birth of his second child with his wife Becky Marsh was considered as the potential substitute captain should Cummins be unable to participate. Due to uncertainty regarding Cummins availability and Marsh being unavailable Steve Smith may captain the team in the Champions Trophy following the conclusion of the two-Test series against Sri Lanka. Australia will kick off their tournament journey with a game against their long-standing rivals England on February 22 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.