NEW DELHI: Australia have been hit by a major setback ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup, with star pacer Pat Cummins ruled out due to a lingering back injury. The tournament, set to begin on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka, will now be contested without the experienced quick.

In addition, top-order batter Matthew Short has also been left out of the final 15-player squad as Cricket Australia made a couple of adjustments.

Left-arm pacer Ben Dwarshuis and batter Matthew Renshaw have been drafted in to replace them, with selector Tony Dodemaide expressing confidence that both can make a meaningful impact in the tournament.

"With Pat needing more time to recover from his back injury Ben is a ready replacement who offers a left-arm pace option as well as dynamic fielding and late-order hitting," Dodemaide said.

"We believe his ability to swing the ball at good pace along with clever variations will be well suited to the conditions we expect and overall structure of the squad.

"Matt (Renshaw) has impressed in all formats of late, including in multiple roles in white ball formats for Australia, the Queensland Bulls and the Brisbane Heat.

"With the top order settled and spin heavy conditions expected in the pool stages in Sri Lanka, we also feel Matt provides extra middle order support, with Tim David completing his return to play program in the early phase of the tournament.

"As a left hander, he (Renshaw) also offers a point of difference to the middle order batting."

Australia squad: 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