Shock exit, star returns: Steve Smith replaces Hazlewood in T20 WC squad ahead of crucial Sri Lanka match

Australia's campaign suffered a blow after Zimbabwe beat the side by 23 runs. The former champions are now facing a do-or-die encounter against Sri Lanka.

Smith has been added just hours before the crucial match that will ensure Australia's Super 8 advancement.

Smith takes Josh Hazlewood's spot in Australia's World Cup squad with a replacement not immediately named when the paceman was ruled out of the tournament earlier this month as he recovers from an Achilles injury, reported Cricket Australia website.

Smith trained with the squad in Kandy on Sunday after arriving in Sri Lanka recently as a cover for opener Mitch Marsh.

Marsh missed Australia's first two matches with a testicular injury.

Marsh returned to training on Sunday, moving freely during running and fielding drills as he pushes to make his comeback against the tournament co-hosts at Pallekele Stadium later tonight (Tuesday, 12:30am AEDT), the website said.

In a separate statement, International Cricket COuncil confirmed the development and said in a statement, "Smith is named as a replacement for Hazlewood, who is now officially ruled out from participating in the tournament due to a calf injury."

The team’s medical staff had hoped to have him fit in time to feature in the latter parts of the tournament but were unsuccessful.

"The replacement of a player requires the approval of the Event Technical Committee before the replacement player can be officially added to the squad," the statement said.

The Event Technical committee of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 consists of Wasim Khan (Chair, ICC General Manager - Cricket), Gaurav Saxena (ICC General Manager – Events & Corporate Communications, IBC representative), Hemang Amin (Tournament Director, host representative) and Shaun Pollock (Independent nominee).