T20 World Cup 2026: Pat Cummins confirmed to miss at least two group matches

Australia’s preparations for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 have taken a hit, with chief selector George Bailey confirming that the experienced pace bowler Pat Cummins is unlikely to feature in the opening games of the marquee event due to ongoing injury concerns.

Cummins, who has been managing a lumbar bone stress injury, first suffered the setback ahead of the 2025–26 Ashes series. The back issue forced him out of four of the five Tests. Although he returned to the playing XI in the third Test in Adelaide and impressed with a six-wicket haul, the New South Wales cricketer ruled himself out for the remainder of the Ashes. 

With Australia’s T20 World Cup campaign kicking off with matches across India and Sri Lanka, Bailey revealed that Cummins is still on the road to full fitness and is not expected to be fit for the first few matches of the tournament. The former Australian captain went on to explain that the selectors want to ensure Cummins has maximum time for recovery so that there is a minimal chance of getting injured again.

“He’ll probably join that World Cup group a little bit later in the tournament, around game three or four. If we can, absolutely, that’s the plan. Clearly, if something moves and we’re forced to cover that, we will, but, yes, hopefully all things being equal, that’ll be how that one plays out” Bailey was quoted as saying. 

Seniors rested for Pakistan T20Is

Cummins isn’t just set to miss the opening World Cup matches. He has also been left out of Australia’s three-match T20I series against Pakistan, scheduled from January 29 to February 1, as part of workload management and rehabilitation planning. With the multinational tournament less than three weeks away, Cricket Australia has decided to rest a few of its senior players as a precautionary measure. 

Apart from Pat Cummins, several star players, including Glenn Maxwell, Josh Hazlewood, Tim David, and Nathan Ellis, have not been included in the squad for the Pakistan tour.  The selection committee took the decision on Monday to give the players the needed rest and keep the players fresh and ready for the global event.

Australia squad for Pakistan T20Is: Mitchell Marsh (capt), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Mahli Beardman, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitch Owen, Josh Philippe, Matthew Renshaw, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa