Hazlewood on Track for T20 World Cup Start

Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has given a positive update on his injury recovery, stating he is on track to be fit for the start of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup next month. The 35-year-old, who missed the entire Ashes series against England due to injuries, expressed confidence in his rehabilitation progress during an interview with ESPNcricinfo.

Hazlewood sustained a hamstring strain at the beginning of the Ashes in late 2024, which ruled him out of the five-Test series. During his subsequent rehabilitation, he developed Achilles soreness, further delaying his return. As a result, he will miss the latter stages of the Big Bash League, where he is listed as a supplementary player for the Sydney Sixers, and Australia's late-January T20I series against Pakistan. He plans to regain match fitness through a warmup match early next month ahead of the tournament.

The ICC Men's T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, begins on February 7. Australia, drawn in Group B alongside Ireland, Oman, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe, will play their opening match against Ireland on February 11 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Hazlewood's timeline aligns well with this schedule, allowing him...