Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc are among several Australian players likely to miss the upcoming ODI tour of Pakistan because of a scheduling clash with the IPL 2026 playoffs.
Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc
Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc are among several Australian players likely to miss the upcoming ODI tour of Pakistan because of a scheduling clash with the IPL 2026 playoffs.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday confirmed that the three-match ODI series will begin on May 30 in Rawalpindi, before moving to Lahore for the final two games on June 2 and June 4.
Advertisement
Australia are then scheduled to travel directly to Bangladesh for another white-ball series featuring three ODIs and three T20Is starting on June 9.
Advertisement
The IPL league stage ends on May 24, while the playoffs will run from May 26 to May 31. Australia’s ODI squad is expected to leave for Pakistan on May 23, meaning players involved in the IPL playoffs are unlikely to be available.
Cummins, Hazlewood, Travis Head, Cooper Connolly and Xavier Bartlett are all expected to miss the tour, with their IPL teams currently well placed for the playoffs. Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings are first and second on the table, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru are also among the top teams.
Starc could still be involved if Delhi Capitals fail to make the playoffs, while Cameron Green’s Kolkata Knight Riders remain outside the qualification spots for now.
On the other hand, Mitchell Marsh and wicketkeeper Josh Inglis are expected to be available as Lucknow Super Giants are almost out of the playoff race. Matt Short could also be available if Chennai Super Kings fail to qualify.
Even if some senior players become available, Cricket Australia are reportedly unlikely to risk Cummins, Hazlewood and Starc unless selectors and medical staff feel they need more bowling before a packed Test schedule later in the year.
Australia are set to play up to 21 Tests over the next 12 months, beginning with a home series against Bangladesh in August. Keeping the fast-bowling trio fresh for that schedule is expected to be a priority.
Cummins has played only two white-ball internationals since Australia’s ODI World Cup triumph in 2023, both in November 2024. If he misses the Pakistan and Bangladesh tours, his next ODI appearance could come during Australia’s tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa in September.
Head could also be rested after the IPL to manage his workload across formats, while Green may still be included as Australia look to give him more experience in subcontinent conditions ahead of next year’s Test tour of India.
As happened during the T20I tour of Pakistan before the T20 World Cup, Australia are expected to field a relatively young squad. Experienced players such as Alex Carey, Adam Zampa and Marnus Labuschagne are available, along with Matt Renshaw, who has impressed in white-ball cricket recently.
Fast bowler Nathan Ellis has reportedly resumed bowling after recovering from a hamstring tendon injury that ruled him out of the IPL. Meanwhile, leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha, young batter Ollie Peake and uncapped spin-bowling all-rounders Joel Daviesand Nikhil Chaudhary have joined training camps in Brisbane with Australia’s coaching staff ahead of the tour.
Advertisement
