T20 World Cup 2024: Australia Cricket Team Hit By Logistical Issues

Australia are yet to face a ball in the T20 World Cup 2024, but disaster has already struck them off the field.

Australia is set to start their World Cup campaign against Oman on Wednesday (June 5) [June 6, Thursday in India]. They will play at the Kensington Oval in Barbados against the Asian minnows but endured logistical stress ahead of the match.

The whole squad has finally reached Barbados, but three of their players joined late. Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Glenn Maxwell flew back to Australia after their IPL 2024 campaign and after a brief stay at home, came to the West Indies.

Cummins reportedly lost his luggage during his trip back home but later found it during his two-day stay in Sydney. Cummins led Sunrisers Hyderabad to the IPL 2024 final but was beaten by Kolkata Knight Riders. Mitchell Starc and Glenn Maxwell also went back to Australia after the IPL. Starc's team KKR won the IPL 2024 title while Maxwell's RCB was ousted from the Eliminator.

The duo took the flight for West Indies together but had to stay one night in Los Angeles and another night in Miami before finally arriving at Barbados. Marcus Stoinis was also left out of the warm-up match against West Indies as his kitbag didn't arrive.

Coaching Staff Steps In

The logistical trouble and travel issues forced Australia to field their coaching staff in the warm-up match against Namibia. Chief selector George Bailey and head coach Andre McDonald were on the field during the warm-up match as Aussies only had nine players to pick. Batting coach Brad Hodge also took part in the fielding for some time.

Looking Ahead

The Australian team will be hoping to showcase their best self in the tournament which they won in 2021. They are in Group B along with England, Oman, Namibia, and Scotland.