Australian Pacer Josh Hazlewood Ruled Out of T20 World Cup Due to Injury

Kathmandu. The Australian team has suffered another major blow ahead of the T20 World Cup. Star fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the tournament due to injury. This withdrawal before the first match is considered a huge loss for Australia. Another key bowler, Pat Cummins, had already been ruled out due to injury.

Hazlewood's absence could prove costly for Australia, as he was in excellent form in T20 cricket in 2025. He played a significant role in Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) title win in the IPL and also delivered lethal bowling in the series against South Africa, New Zealand, and India.

In 2025, he took 12 wickets at an average of 16.58 and an economy rate of 7.37. His bowling, especially in the powerplay, was very impressive.

Hazlewood's entire season has been ruined by injury. He experienced hamstring problems during a Sheffield Shield match before the Ashes series, and later an Achilles issue also troubled him.

Although he expressed hope in January that he would be fit for the World Cup, he did not fly to Colombo with the other team members. According to selector Tony Dodemaide, while Hazlewood was hoped to be fit by the Super 8 stage, the latest report suggests it will take longer for him to return to the field.

Australia has not yet announced a replacement for him. The plan of the head coach and selectors is for the available players in the squad to manage the initial matches and make further decisions as needed. The possibility of including Sean Abbott, who is touring with the team from Pakistan, remains alive.

Other Australian spinners Adam Zampa, Nathan Ellis, and Tim David are also battling injuries. However, Cricket Australia has stated that Zampa will be available for the first match against Ireland.

This is the first time since an ICC tournament in 2009 that the Australian team will take the field without any of Hazlewood, Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Steve Smith, or David Warner.