When will Josh Hazlewood join Australia's squad for T20 World Cup 2026?

Josh Hazlewood faces a race against time ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 opener.

With the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 set to begin on February 7, Australia have suffered a significant setback even before a ball has been bowled. Star fast bowler Josh Hazlewood is expected to miss the early stages of the tournament as he continues his rehabilitation from an Achilles injury.

This development is a cause for concern for Cricket Australia, as Hazlewood is experienced and a crucial part of Australia’s pace attack in major ICC events. Josh’s injury troubles date back to the start of the Ashes, where he was initially ruled out due to a hamstring issue.

While undergoing rehabilitation for that setback, the pacer unfortunately picked up an Achilles injury, further delaying his return to competitive cricket. As a result, Cricket Australia’s medical team decided it would be best for Hazlewood to remain in Sydney rather than travel with the squad ahead of the World Cup.

The decision underlines Australia’s long-term view of the fast bowler’s fitness, with the management keen to ensure he is fully fit before being exposed to the rigours of international travel and high-intensity matches.

Why are Australia taking a cautious approach with Josh Hazlewood’s return?

Cricket Australia selector Tony Dodemaide shed light on the thinking behind Hazlewood’s delayed arrival. He stressed that the decision was made with the player’s recovery as the top priority.

“We felt with Josh it was more practical and beneficial for him to continue his rehabilitation at home in a familiar environment before travelling to Sri Lanka. With Nathan also completing his return to play, we decided to bring Sean with us as fast bowling cover should anything come up at short notice,” Dodemaide quoted.

As of now, there is no confirmed date for when Josh Hazlewood will rejoin Australia’s squad. His availability will depend on how his rehabilitation progresses in the coming days. Australia are expected to reassess his condition before making a call on his travel plans.

In Hazlewood’s absence, Sean Abbott has been added to the T20 World Cup squad as a travelling reserve, providing fast-bowling cover should the need arise. Meanwhile, several senior players — including Glenn Maxwell, Nathan Ellis and Tim David — are set to link up with the Australian squad in Colombo after missing the T20I tour of Pakistan.

Australia will be keen to have Hazlewood fit and firing as the competition intensifies, but for now, patience remains the key as the fast bowler continues his recovery at home.

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