“I caught up with Josh a couple of days ago and he’s working so hard. I really feel for him – he’s had a few setbacks,” Cummins told Australian broadcaster Nine Network.

“He’s doing everything he can. I don’t think he will be there for the start of the tournament, but he’s trying his best to be there about halfway through.”

Fellow squad members Glenn Maxwell, Nathan Ellis and Tim David, who missed Australia’s recent tour of Pakistan, are set to join the team in Sri Lanka this week before a warm-up match against the Netherlands on Thursday.

Hazlewood, however, is remaining in Sydney, with selector Tony Dodemaide saying it is “more practical and beneficial for him to continue his rehabilitation at home”.

Hazlewood has taken 79 wickets with an economy of 7.47 in 60 T20s for Australia, including figures of 3-16 in their 2021 T20 World Cup final victory over New Zealand.

Meanwhile, Cummins has said he has suffered a “minor setback” in his recovery from lumbar bone stress in his lower back.

The injury first flared up on Australia’s Test tour of West Indies in July and restricted him to one appearance during the Ashes.

Cummins, who has been replaced in the T20 World Cup squad by Ben Dwarshuis, hopes to return to action for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League, which begins on 26 March.

“We wanted to give the back a little rest to make sure it’s right for what’s going to be a big rest of the year – I should be right to go in a few weeks,” Cummins said.