Hazlewood ruled out of World Cup in latest Aussie blow

Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the Twenty20 World Cup, leaving Australia without any of their big-three pacemen at a white-ball world cup for the first time since 2011.

Friday's announcement looms as the latest blow for both injury-plagued Hazlewood and the Australian team, which has endured a nightmarish preparation for the tournament beginning this weekend.

Australia will not immediately replace the 35-year-old in their squad ahead of their tournament opener against Ireland in Colombo on February 11.

Hazlewood has not played since November, missing Australia's 4-1 Ashes series when he injured his Achilles tendon while recovering from a hamstring issue.

But as recently as this week, Australia had expected the precise right-arm quick would play some part in their push for a second T20 World Cup title.

Instead, Hazlewood will join fellow Pat Cummins (back injury) in missing the entirety of the tournament being played across India and Sri Lanka.

The Aussies are also without the remaining member of the so-called "big-three" pacemen in Mitch Starc, who retired from T20 internationals last year.

Since the 2011 One Day International World Cup, at least one member of the big-three quicks has featured at every white-ball world cup.

"We were hopeful Josh would be back to match fitness by the Super 8 stage," said selector Tony Dodemaide.

"But the latest indications he is still some time away and accelerating his program will carry too much risk."

Sean Abbott joined the squad as a touring reserve this week and joins Nathan Ellis, Ben Dwarshuis and Xavier Bartlett as frontline pace options for the tournament.

Hazlewood's omission looms as another setback amid Australia's nightmarish preparations.

Pakistan whitewashed an admittedly understrength Australia in their recent three-match series before their practice match against Netherlands in Colombo was washed out overnight Thursday.

Australia has also been contending with injuries to Tim David, Nathan Ellis and Adam Zampa, though all three are expected to take part in the group stage.

David, Ellis and out-of-form Glenn Maxwell missed the Pakistan series so enter the tournament with no match practice since the BBL.

After the Netherlands clash was washed out, skipper Mitch Marsh put a brave face on preparations, despite Australia going into the tournament off the back of their worst ever T20 defeat: a 111-run loss to Pakistan in Lahore on Sunday.

"Look, Pakistan was Pakistan. We had a few guys missing and we come here with a long lead-in and a good training session yesterday," Marsh said, happy that their late start in Colombo means they have an extra four days of preparation after the tournament launches on Saturday with Pakistan against the Netherlands.

"So we will be very well-prepared for our first game."

Marsh admits Australia have been handed a potentially awkward group against the co-hosts Sri Lanka, dangerous outsiders Ireland and Zimbabwe, and makeweights Oman, but was quite bullish about his side's prospects.

"We've got great respect for all the teams we're going to be playing against," he said.

"Over the last 18 months, I feel we've been one of the most consistent sides in the world.

"We come to this World Cup really confident, knowing that conditions will be different at times, but we've got guys that have experienced that all over the world. So we look forward to the challenge of playing against everyone."

Marsh can point to Australia's pretty good record in T20s since the last World Cup in 2024, with the team having lost only seven of their 24 internationals.

Australia won the T20 World Cup in 2021, defeating New Zealand by eight wickets in the final, but did not qualify for the knockout stage at either the 2022 or 2024 editions.