In a major blow for Australia, pacers Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins have been ruled out of the upcoming Test tour against Pakistan, it was announced on Thursday. After their omission, Mitchell Starc will be the only member of Australia's Ashes-winning pace trio to feature on the tour, expected to be held in the United Arab Emirates in October.

Hazlewood and Cummins were set to play their first Test series since the ill-fated tour of South Africa earlier this year. Australia's men's team physiotherapist David Beakley said the duo are on track to make a return during September's JLT One-Day Cup with New South Wales ahead of the start of the international season.