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Australia’s Top Pacers Likely to Miss Pakistan ODI Series Due to IPL Clash

Pakistan will host Australia for a three-match ODI series starting May 30 in Rawalpindi. Key Australian pacers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood are likely to miss the series due to IPL playoff commitments. Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis are expected to be available for the tour. The series provides both teams an opportunity to build momentum ahead of next year's Cricket World Cup.

Key Points: Australia Stars May Skip Pakistan ODIs Over IPL

  • Australia's Pakistan ODI series clashes with IPL 2026 playoffs
  • Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood likely unavailable
  • Mitchell Marsh, Josh Inglis expected to play
  • Series starts May 30 in Rawalpindi
2 min read

Pakistan announces home ODI series against Australia; Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood unlikely as dates overlap with IPL

Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood likely to miss Australia's ODI series in Pakistan as dates overlap with IPL 2026 playoffs.

"Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Cummins, along with fellow Australians Hazlewood, Head, Cooper Connolly and Xavier Bartlett, are almost certain to be unavailable - ICC website"

Lahore, May 7

Pakistan will host Australia for a three-match ODI series later this month, with matches scheduled in Rawalpindi and Lahore.

Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc are among a host of Australians who look set to miss a three-match ODI tour of Pakistan as the dates clash with the end of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, as per the ICC website.

IPL's regular season ends on May 24, with the playoffs set to run from May 26 to May 31. Australia are scheduled to arrive in Islamabad on May 23 ahead of the opening ODI at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on May 30. The series will then move to Gaddafi Stadium for the second and third ODIs on June 2 and June 4, respectively.

Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Cummins, along with fellow Australians Hazlewood, Head, Cooper Connolly and Xavier Bartlett, are almost certain to be unavailable, with Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings currently occupying the top two spots on the table. Hazlewood's Royal Challengers Bengaluru sit third and also appear playoff-bound.

Meanwhile, Starc's Delhi Capitals are seventh and still in contention, while Cameron Green's Kolkata Knight Riders languish in eighth and would likely need an extraordinary finish to qualify.

On the other hand, ODI vice-captain Mitchell Marsh and wicketkeeper Josh Inglis are expected to be available, with Lucknow Super Giants virtually out of the playoff race.

Matt Short could also become available if sixth-placed Chennai Super Kings fail to mount a late surge; the all-rounder has remained on the fringes of Australia's ODI setup.

The tour marks Australia's first bilateral ODI series in Pakistan since their visit in March-April 2022, which saw the Asian side win 2-1.

Earlier this year, Australia toured Pakistan for a three-match T20I series, where the hosts completed a 3-0 sweep in Lahore.

With the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup approaching next year, the series presents both teams with another opportunity to build combinations and momentum in the 50-over format.

Following the fixtures, Australia will mark a return to Bangladesh with six white-ball games.

The tour includes three ODIs in Dhaka from June 9 and three T20Is in Chattogram beginning June 17.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Cricket schedule is a mess honestly. Australia barely tours Pakistan and when they do, half the team is missing. Good for Pakistan’s chances though! They can win this series.
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Vikram M
Typical PCB scheduling blunder – why plan a series in late May knowing IPL will be on? Plus the political tension with BCCI and no India tours means Pakistan is always shortchanged. Need smarter cricket diplomacy.
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James A
Honestly, I'd rather watch IPL playoffs than Pakistan vs Australia ODIs. But that's just me. Aussie fans must be disappointed their top pacers are prioritizing franchise cricket over country.
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Priya S
Good for Pakistan – they can now test their batters against a second-string Aussie attack. But as an Indian fan, I miss the old days when tours were sacred and not dictated by franchise leagues. Cricket needs balance.

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