Australia’s top players, including captain Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc, will not be part of the upcoming three-match ODI tour of Pakistan. This absence is due to a scheduling conflict with the IPL 2026 finale set for May 31. The ODI series in Pakistan is slated to commence on May 30 in Rawalpindi, with the subsequent matches scheduled for June 2 and 4 in Lahore.
The clash arises as the IPL 2026 group stage concludes on May 24, leading to player commitments in the playoffs and the final. Cricket Australia (CA) has confirmed that Australian players will honor their IPL commitments without interference from the Pakistan tour. Notably, 13 Australian players, including Cummins, Hazlewood, and Starc, are currently participating in the IPL.
While only a few Australian players are not in the top 4 IPL teams, the potential unavailability of key players for the Pakistan tour looms large. Reports suggest that Cummins, Hazlewood, and Starc might also be rested for the subsequent series in Bangladesh to aid their recovery from injuries sustained during the Ashes series. Cummins, in particular, has had limited ODI appearances post the 2023 World Cup triumph, hinting at a potential return during the tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa in September.
