New Delhi, February 3: Australian fast bowler Pat Cummins has revealed that he was very close to being included in the T20 World Cup 2026 squad. However, due to a delay in his recovery from injury, he has been excluded from the final 15-member team.
Due to ongoing back issues, Cummins has been replaced by Ben Dwarshuis for the tournament, which kicks off on February 7. Although Cummins felt physically fit, he did not have enough time to fully recover.
In a statement to AAP via ICC, Cummins expressed his disappointment, saying, “This is really unfortunate. I was feeling quite good, but a small setback occurred, and time ran out. I will take a few weeks off and then move forward.”
The Australian captain noted that after the Adelaide Test, the medical team determined that his back required four to eight weeks of rest before he could resume playing.
He explained, “After the Adelaide Test, we knew it would take four to eight weeks for the bone to heal completely and regain strength. Initially, we thought it might only take four weeks since I was feeling good, but after a follow-up scan, they believed it might take a bit longer, which delayed my recovery.”
Cummins hopes to return to the field during the Indian Premier League (IPL) in March. However, he emphasized that his main goal is to be fully fit for the busy Test calendar at the end of the year.
Australia’s schedule is quite packed, including a home Test match against Bangladesh, an overseas series in South Africa, and several matches against New Zealand and India before the current World Test Championship concludes.
Despite missing the World Cup, Cummins remains confident in Australia’s performance in the tournament. He stated that the recent loss to Pakistan in the T20 series does not reflect the team’s true potential.
Cummins remarked, “Some of our matches in Pakistan were not great. However, players are returning from the Big Bash with good performances, and some are recovering from injuries to come back for the World Cup.”
He added, “The morale is high. I’ve spoken to some players from afar… they know how big this opportunity is, and they are excited to get started and be a part of it.”
The 2021 T20 World Cup champions will face Ireland, Zimbabwe, Oman, and co-host Sri Lanka in their group-stage matches.
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My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 7 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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