‘It’s a timing issue’ – Selector defends Cummins, Hazlewood IPL fitness after missing T20 World Cup

Australia’s disastrous group-stage exit from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has left fans stunned and frustrated, especially with injured pacers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood likely to be fit for the upcoming IPL despite missing the global event.

However, the Aussie selectors have made it clear that the situation purely came down to timing. There will be a full review into Australia’s early exit once the squad returns home. And the absence of Cummins and Hazlewood, their experienced bowling duo, proved costly for the 2021 T20 World Cup champions.

This can be highlighted with just one simple fact. In the losses against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, they only took four wickets, all claimed by all-rounders Marcus Stoinis and Cameron Green.

Hazlewood had been a key component of Australia’s evolving T20 attack but continued to battle Achilles and calf issues after initially suffering a hamstring injury in November. Cummins, meanwhile, has not played since the third Ashes Test in mid-December. He was rested to protect a stress issue in his back with the T20 World Cup in mind but was eventually withdrawn from the initial squad. 

Despite featuring in just one match between them in the past three months, both quicks are expected to regain fitness in time for the IPL, barring further setbacks.

Selector Tony Dodemaide addressed the situation on Wednesday, saying that it has nothing to do with players prioritising IPL over country stint.

“It is what it is. It’s a timing issue. If it was in reverse, the IPL was first and the World Cup was second, then they’d be missing the IPL to play in the World Cup. It’s not going to be frustrating for us at all. We know their commitment to want to play and succeed for Australia,” the selector was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

Meanwhile, he further clarified Steve Smith‘s role in the T20I setup. Smith was flown in late, initially as cover for Mitchell Marsh and later officially included as Hazlewood’s replacement. However, he could not get a game. 

“As we’ve said before, we see him [Smith] primarily at the top, and that’s where he’s coming into the squad for cover of that area,” Dodemaide said.

“He was only really available for game three, which was the game that we had our best performed pairing, which is Bison [Mitch Marsh] and Heady [Travis Head], did extremely well,” he concluded.