KARACHI: 2021 champions Australia suffered another injury on Friday ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 on February 7, with fast bowler Nathan Ellis suffering a hamstring injury.
The right-arm pacer, who has been leading the Hobart Hurricanes in the ongoing Big Bash League (PBL) 2025-26, raised concerns over his availability for the T20 World Cup hours before their high-stakes challenger against the Sydney Sixers.
Ellis previously missed the Hurricanes’ knockout against the Melbourne Stars by the same margin and was expected to return for the league’s final two matches, but was unable to overcome the injury.
His injury adds to Australia’s growing list of pace concerns, with veteran duo Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins already struggling for availability for the mega event.
Hazlewood, who has been out since November last year, is expected to regain full fitness ahead of the tournament, while Cummins will return to the squad in the later stages of the mega event.
Australia tour Pakistan for a three-match T20I series, scheduled to be held in Lahore from January 29 to February 1, to give the finishing touches to their preparations for the mega event.
The former champions rested five key players – Tim David, Hazlewood, Glenn Maxwell, Cummins and Ellis – as part of their provisional World Cup squad for the series either as they recover from injuries or manage their workload carefully.
Provisional Australian squad for 2026 T20 World Cup:
Mitchell Marsh (catch), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhneman, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis and Adam Zampa.