Sydney: Left-arm Australia pacer Mitchell Starc has withdrawn from the remaining two T20s of the ongoing three-match series against India on compassionate grounds due to a family illness.
Starc, who arrived in Sydney from Canberra on Saturday, left the team bubble after learning of a family illness.
“There is nothing in the world more important than family and in this case Mitch is no exception,” said head coach Justin Langer in a statement.
“We will give Mitch all the time he needs and welcome him back into the squad with open arms whenever he feels the time is right for him and his family.”.
The left-arm pacer had missed the third and final ODI of the preceding series against India with soreness but returned to the line-up for the T20 series opener in Canberra. He had returned with figures of 2-34 in his four overs at the Manuka Oval in the match which the hosts lost by 11 runs.
Starc’s withdrawal is the latest change to Australia’s limited-overs squad in the past week.
David Warner and Ashton Agar have been ruled out with injury, Pat Cummins has been rested to prepare for the Test summer while Marcus Stoinis has remained with the squad despite suffering a side injury.
D’Arcy Short, Mitch Swepson and Nathan Lyon have been added to the squad, but there will be no replacement for Starc as Andrew Tye and Daniel Sams are already in the squad for the remaining two T20s against the Men in Blue.
After the three-match T20 series, Australia and India are set to compete in the much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy which begins with the pink-ball Test at the Adelaide Oval from December 17.