Lubor Blazek has swung the axe as he gets closer to finalizing the squad he will lead at the FIBA World Championship for Women later this month.

Michaela Zrustova and Katerina Zohnova, part of the 17-strong group that has been working out since May, were let go by the Czech national team boss.

"I don't want to use the word ‘cut'," Blazek said.

"Nevertheless the fact of the matter is that we can only use 12 players at the World Championship, therefore the team must be narrowed down.

"So in the end, there was no room on the short list for Michaela Zrustova and Katerina Zohnova."

Blazek had great things to say about both players.

"Mísa Zrustova improved tremendously during the preparation and in the end it was the fact that she played the majority of last year's season as a small pivot, whereas on the national team we tested her as a winger," Blazek said.

"But I believe that if she continues to work and if she plays as a winger in the league, then she has a big future on the national team ahead of her."

As for Zohnova, Blazek said: "As both (friendly) games against Belarus showed, games at the World Championship will be mainly about power and aggression.

"From this perspective we want to have more robust types of players available.

"But by all means I also want to thank Katka for her approach during the entire preparation."