Hazlewood told ESPNcricinfo last week that he was progressing well for the World Cup after hamstring and Achilles problems forced him to miss the entire Ashes series and is targeting a return in Australia’s warm-up match in Sri Lanka which is expected to also be against Pakistan.
“TD [David] had a very minor setback, I think last week, so didn’t quite get through a running session that he was hoping to, but has since been cleared of any damage,” chair of selections George Bailey said. “It was just, I think, on the back of a heavy week. So he’s still tracking for the start of the tournament. Josh is in the same boat and Pat’s a little bit different … he’ll probably join that World Cup group a little bit later in the tournament, around game three or four.”
The plan to give Cummins extra time following the lumbar stress injury which limited him to one Test against England was previously flagged earlier this month. “If we can, absolutely, that’s the plan,” Bailey said on Monday. “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.”
Ten of Australia’s T20 World Cup will be part of the Pakistan trip. Alongside Beardman and Edwards, Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Mitch Owen, Josh Phillippe and Matt Renshaw come into the expanded 17-player squad which covers for those who may miss the opening match of the series having played the BBL final.
There remains a chance the likes of Abbott or Dwarshuis could be added to the T20 World Cup squad as a traveling reserve.
“The series is a great opportunity for those on the brink of selection and some young players we rate highly for valuable experience with the World Cup group in Pakistan,” Bailey said. “Some are already experienced international players along with Mahli Beardman who has been with the group a number of times and Jack Edwards who joined for the last one-day match against India in Sydney last year.”
The T20Is in Lahore take place between January 29 and February 1. Australia’s first game of the T20 World Cup is on February 11, in Colombo against Ireland.
Players competing in the remainder of the BBL will join the squad in Pakistan once their tournament is complete.
Australia squad vs Pakistan
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
