Australia is poised to include Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Tim David in its provisional squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, despite the trio carrying recent injury concerns. Cummins, recovering from a lumbar stress injury, will undergo another back scan in four weeks, with a final decision on his tournament participation to be made thereafter.
Head coach Andrew McDonald confirmed that Cummins will be named in the 15-man squad due by January 2, stressing the team will monitor his condition closely. The experienced pacer returned for the third Ashes Test in Adelaide, delivering a superb performance before being rested for precautionary reasons. Cummins has not featured in a T20I since the previous World Cup in the Caribbean.
Josh Hazlewood, who missed the Ashes series due to hamstring and Achilles injuries, is also expected to feature in the squad. McDonald said the 34-year-old fast bowler is returning to full bowling fitness and is on track to play in February’s marquee tournament.
Middle-order batter Tim David remains a key concern after sustaining a grade-two right hamstring strain during the BBL with Hobart Hurricanes. Though ruled out of the remainder of the Big Bash, David’s rehabilitation is progressing well, and he is expected to be fit for the T20 World Cup, which kicks off against Ireland on February 11.
Australia will fine-tune their preparations with a three-match T20I series in Pakistan in late January, giving players game time ahead of the World Cup while managing workloads for those returning from injury. Cummins, Hazlewood, and David, if fully fit, will provide a major boost to a squad looking to reclaim T20 supremacy on the world stage.
