Australia are likely to be without several of their frontline players, including Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, for their upcoming ODI tour of Pakistan, with the series dates overlapping with the closing stages of IPL 2026.
The three-match ODI series is scheduled to begin on May 30 in Rawalpindi, followed by matches in Lahore on June 2 and June 4, as confirmed by the Pakistan Cricket Board. These fixtures complete the second leg of a white-ball tour that originally began with three T20Is ahead of the T20 World Cup in January, with the ODIs rescheduled due to a congested schedule
Australia will then travel directly to Bangladesh for another white-ball assignment, comprising three ODIs and three T20Is starting on June 9.
IPL Playoffs Create Availability Concerns
The IPL regular season concludes on May 24, with the playoffs set to run from May 26 to May 31. Australia’s ODI squad is expected to depart for Pakistan on May 23, meaning players involved in the knockout stages are unlikely to be available.
Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Cooper Connolly and Xavier Bartlett are expected to miss the tour, with Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings currently occupying the top two spots on the table. Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Hazlewood’s franchise, sit third.
More Read
Mitchell Starc’s Delhi Capitals are placed seventh, while Cameron Green’s Kolkata Knight Riders are eighth and would require a strong finish to reach the playoffs. Meanwhile, Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis are likely to be available, with Lucknow Super Giants almost out of contention. Matt Short, whose Chennai Super Kings are sixth, also remains on the fringes of ODI selection.
Workload Management a Key Factor
Even beyond scheduling conflicts, Cricket Australia are understood to be cautious about rushing Cummins, Hazlewood and Starc back into action unless necessary. All three entered the IPL after managing injuries, and selectors may prefer to keep them fresh ahead of a demanding Test calendar.
Australia are set to play 20, potentially 21, Tests over the next 12 months, beginning with a home series against Bangladesh in August. This heavy workload is expected to influence squad decisions for both the Pakistan and Bangladesh tours.
More Read
Selection Outlook and Squad Depth
Cummins, Australia’s ODI captain, has featured in only two white-ball internationals since the 2023 World Cup, both in November 2024. If he skips the upcoming tours, his next appearance in the format could come during the Zimbabwe and South Africa tour in September.
Travis Head may also be rested after the IPL, given his role across all three formats. Cameron Green, despite mixed form, remains part of Australia’s plans and could feature in subcontinental conditions as preparation for future assignments.
Australia could once again opt for a relatively inexperienced squad, similar to their earlier T20I tour of Pakistan. However, senior players such as Alex Carey, Adam Zampa and Marnus Labuschagne are available, along with Matt Renshaw, who has strengthened his case in white-ball cricket through recent performances.
Nathan Ellis has reportedly resumed bowling after recovering from a hamstring tendon injury that ruled him out of the IPL. Meanwhile, emerging players including Tanveer Sangha, Ollie Peake, Joel Davies and Nikhil Chaudhary have been training with the national coaching staff in Brisbane as preparations continue ahead of the tour.
