Australia's T20 World Cup preparations have been dealt a significant blow with the news that star fast bowler Pat Cummins has been ruled out of the upcoming tournament due to a lingering back injury. The ICC Men's T20 World Cup, set to be held in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, will now proceed without the services of the experienced campaigner.

Cummins' back injury, which has troubled him for over six months and limited his appearances, has not healed sufficiently to allow him to participate in the global event. Selectors have opted to take a cautious approach, prioritizing his long-term fitness.

In Cummins' place, left-arm pacer Ben Dwarshuis has been named as his replacement in the 15-member squad. Dwarshuis, a Sydney Sixers stalwart, brings a valuable left-arm pace option to the bowling attack, along with dynamic fielding skills and the ability to contribute with late-order hitting.

According to Australian selector Tony Dodemaide, Dwarshuis' ability to swing the ball at good pace and his clever variations will be well-suited to the expected conditions and the overall structure of the squad.

Australia has also made another change to their squad, with former Test opener Matthew Renshaw replacing Matt Short. Renshaw, who recently made his T20 international debut, provides middle-order reinforcement and versatility. Dodemaide highlighted Renshaw's impressive form across all formats and his ability to contribute in multiple roles. He also noted that Renshaw, as a left-hander, offers a different dimension to the middle-order batting.

The decision to include Renshaw over Short reflects a strategic choice to bolster the middle order, particularly given the expectation of spin-friendly conditions in Sri Lanka during the pool stages. Selectors have opted for flexibility and batting depth.

The revised Australian squad for the T20 World Cup is as follows: Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.

Notably, veteran batter Steve Smith was not included in the final squad despite pressure to include him.

Australia, captained by Mitchell Marsh, will aim to win their second T20 World Cup title. They begin their campaign against Ireland on February 11 in Colombo.