Ashton Agar ruled out of World Cup, creates fresh selection dilemma for Australia

Ashton Agar ruled out of World Cup, creates fresh selection dilemma for Australia

Ashton Agar has reportedly been ruled out of the upcoming World Cup in India with a calf injury.

As first revealed by The Daily Telegraph, Agar has not recovered from the injury that ruled him out if the recent T20 series against South Africa.

The West Australian, named in Australia’s provisional World Cup squad earlier this month, returned home after one match against the Proteas for the birth of his first child, subsequently missing this week’s ODI series against India.

However, the left-armer tweaker is not expected to join the Australian white-ball squad in India, with Tanveer Sangha looming as his potential replacement, along with Marnus Labuschagne and Matthew Short.

Australia is expected to announce its finalised 15-player World Cup squad on Thursday afternoon.

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Ashton Agar of Australia. Photo by Charle Lombard/Gallo Images/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

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Meanwhile, national selectors are facing a dilemma on whether to carry an injured Travis Head through the first leg of the World Cup.

The South Australian, who suffered a fractured hand during the fourth ODI against South Africa, is not expected to recover until late October at the earliest.

If selectors decided to cut Head from the finalised 15-player squad, he could not be added back in unless there was an injury. However, Head can’t be replaced with another player if they decide to carry him in the squad until he recovers.

Australia’s World Cup opener will be against host nation India at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday, October 8.