The Australian men’s cricket team is facing a significant setback with the news that their ace fast bowler, Pat Cummins, will miss the T20 World Cup 2026 due to an ongoing back injury. The announcement came alongside the release of their 15-member squad, which will be captained by Mitchell Marsh. Cummins has yet to make a full recovery, as confirmed by the ICC, leading to his exclusion from the tournament. Notably, Matthew Short was also left out of the lineup. In his place, Ben Dwarshuis and Matthew Renshaw have been named in the squad. Australian selector Tony Dodemaide highlighted Dwarshuis’s skill in swinging the ball at pace, suggesting it will suit the expected conditions. “With Pat needing more time to heal, Ben is an excellent replacement who brings a left-arm pace option, along with impressive fielding and late-order batting capabilities. His ability to swing the ball effectively will align well with our strategic needs,” Dodemaide remarked. He also praised Renshaw for his versatility across formats, emphasizing the need for additional middle-order strength, especially with Tim David still completing his return-to-play program early in the tournament. Australia finds itself in Group B for the T20 World Cup 2026, competing against teams like Ireland, Oman, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe. The tournament is set to commence on February 7, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, with Australia kicking off their campaign against Ireland on February 11 at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo. Australia’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2026 includes: Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, and Adam Zampa. (With ANI Inputs)
