Australia Suffers Major Setback Ahead Pakistan ODI Series

Australia is expected to tour Pakistan without its first-choice pace attack as Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood are likely to miss the upcoming ODI series due to IPL playoff commitments and workload management concerns.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that the three-match ODI series will begin on May 30 in Rawalpindi, while the remaining two matches will be played in Lahore on June 2 and June 4.

The ODI leg is part of Australia’s white-ball tour of Pakistan, which initially started with three T20Is ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup earlier this year. The ODI matches were shifted to May and June because of an already congested international schedule.

However, the series schedule overlaps with the IPL 2026 playoffs, which are set to run from May 26 to May 31. Australia’s ODI squad is reportedly expected to depart for Pakistan on May 23, meaning players involved in the IPL playoffs are unlikely to be available.

Apart from Cummins, Starc, and Hazlewood, players such as Travis Head, Cooper Connolly, and Xavier Bartlett are also expected to miss the series as their IPL teams remain among the strongest playoff contenders.

Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings currently occupy the top two spots on the IPL table, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru are placed third.

Meanwhile, Starc’s Delhi Capitals sit seventh, while Cameron Green’s Kolkata Knight Riders still have a slim chance of qualifying for the playoffs.

Australia could still have access to ODI vice-captain Mitchell Marsh and wicketkeeper Josh Inglis, with Lucknow Super Giants almost out of playoff contention. Matt Short may also be available as Chennai Super Kings currently sit sixth on the points table.

Reports further suggest that Cricket Australia was already hesitant to include Cummins, Starc, and Hazlewood for the Pakistan and Bangladesh tours unless medical staff believed they needed additional bowling workload after returning from injuries.

The Australian management is also focused on keeping its fast bowlers fresh ahead of a demanding Test calendar that could include up to 21 Tests over the next 12 months, starting with a home series against Bangladesh in August.

Australia may once again opt for a relatively inexperienced squad,  similar to the side that toured Pakistan for the T20I series earlier this year, with experienced names such as Alex Carey, Adam Zampa, and Marnus Labuschagne likely to lead the team.