Pat Cummins isn’t expected to feature for Australia in group-stage matches of the T20 World Cup 2026. Australia’s chief selector, George Bailey, has confirmed that the pacer won’t join Australia’s squad in the first week of the ICC tournament.
Cummins’ race against time
Cummins has been managing a back stress issue and has played just one match in the last 6 months. He returned for Australia in the Ashes 2025-26 but played just the third Test. Cummins won’t tour Pakistan for a 3-match T20I series and will join the team later in Sri Lanka.
“He’ll probably join the World Cup group a little bit later in the tournament. Around game three or four,” said Bailey.
Even if Cummins joins the Australia squad before January 16, the third group stage match against Sri Lanka, there’s no guarantee that the Aussie management will risk playing him.
Hazlewood and David on track
However, Josh Hazlewood and Tim David are expected to be available from the get-go. David had sustained a hamstring injury while batting for the Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League (BBL) and hasn’t played a game since Boxing Day, December 2026. Recently, David had suffered a ‘very minor setback’ in his rehabilitation last week. But the scans indicate that he should be fit for the T20 World Cup.
“But he (David) has since been cleared of any damage. It was just on the back of a heavy week, so he’s still tracking for the start of the tournament; Josh (Hazlewood) is in the same boat,” Bailey said.
Hazlewood had sustained a right hamstring injury while bowling for New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield. During his recovery, he picked up an Achilles issue that ruled him out of the Ashes. The pacer hasn’t played since November 10. But Hazlewood also remains on track to play in Sri Lanka.
“Part of that will certainly be how (Hazlewood and Cummins) are tracking and looking for the tournament, and if they’re both going well, then it’ll be just about covering any potential gaps that we may see throughout the tournament,” Bailey added.
Australia’s squad for T20 World Cup 2026
Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
Australia’s T20 World Cup 2026 schedule
| Date | Teams | Venue | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 11 | Australia vs Ireland | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | 3:00 PM |
| February 13 | Australia vs Zimbabwe | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | 11:00 AM |
| February 16 | Australia vs Sri Lanka | Pallekele International Stadium, Kandy | 7:00 PM |
| February 20 | Australia vs Oman | Pallekele International Stadium, Kandy | 7:00 PM |
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