Pat Cummins Fitness T20 World Cup Getty
As the T20 World Cup 2026 is getting closer, the heartbeats of many teams are increasing. The reason for this is the pressure of performing well in the tournament but the fitness of some players is giving more tension. The current champion Indian team is not only facing this problem, former champion Australia is also stuck in this problem. The Australian team, captained by Mitchell Marsh, will have to start the tournament without its star fast bowler Pat Cummins, who is suffering from a back problem and will not be able to play in some of the group stage matches.
How many matches will Pat Cummins not be able to play?
cricket australia announced its T20 team for the tour of Pakistan on Monday 19 January. Pat Cummins did not get a place in this because he is recovering from his back problem. But during this time, Chief Selector George Bailey made a revelation that ODI and Test captain Pat Cummins will not be available for the first two matches of the group stage. Bailey said that Cummins can return to the team from the third or fourth match. The Australian team will play all its group stage matches in Sri Lanka.
The T20 World Cup is starting from 7th February but Australia’s first match will be against Ireland on 11th February. After this they will face Zimbabwe on 13 February. Cummins will not be able to play in both these matches. The Australian star is expected to return in the match against Sri Lanka on 16 February. This veteran fast bowler has been suffering from back problems for the last few months. Due to this, he was able to play only one match in the Ashes series against England. Now once again the Australian camp is worried about his fitness.
Will Hazlewood-David be able to play World Cup?
Cummins’s fellow pacer Josh Hazlewood is also trying to regain fitness. However, Bailey and the Australian team management have full hope that he will be fit by the time the tournament starts. Hazlewood also could not play a single match of the Ashes series due to injury. However, the biggest relief news for Australia has come about the fitness of explosive batsman Tim David. David, who was injured during the Big Bash League, will be fully fit before the start of the tournament and will be available from the first match of the World Cup.