Last Updated on 2 months ago by Charbel Coorey
Australia have officially been eliminated from the 2026 T20 World Cup in the group stage. A washout in the Ireland-Zimbabwe match means the Zimbabweans move to five points, putting the Australians out of the race for the Super Eights.
Australia’s match against Oman on Friday will be a dead rubber in what has been a tournament to forget. After a solid start against Ireland on February 11, Australia produced two insipid displays against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka to put themselves at the mercy of other results – or as it turned out, the weather.
Fans and former players have not held back in their criticism of the selectors and players. Ian Healy said “Australia had the wrong players” and Mark Waugh believes “the non-selection of Steve Smith in the squad originally is the most baffling non-selection I can remember for ages.”
The 2026 edition continues what has been a poor run of results in T20 World Cups. Australia underachieved in 2009, 2014 and 2016, while reaching the semi-final in 2007 and final in 2010.
2021 is the exception. However, they had the fortune of winning the toss in every game except one in a tournament dominated by chasing teams in dewy conditions under lights in the UAE. Since then, they disappointed again in 2022 (group stage) and 2024 (Super Eights).
Reactions: Rival fans rejoice as Australia are eliminated from the 2026 T20 World Cup
Rival fans are loving life as Australia have been bundled out from a group they were expected to qualify from. Zimbabwe fans are rejoicing. Here are some of the reactions to Australia’s elimination.
Zimbabwe’s qualification to the Super Eights is a fabulous achievement. They did not qualify for the 2024 edition, and now less than two years later, will have the opportunity to go head-to-head with India, West Indies and South Africa in the next round.
“I will take you back to the sub-regional qualifiers, and I stood up to my troops and said we are in this situation because of ourselves, and only we can clear this mess,” said captain Sikandar Raza after the Ireland match was washed out.
“As much as we have achieved, it is just a tick in the box and not the whole box. There will be a small celebration, but we will then focus on the next game.”
