Cricket Australia (CA) has told its players to honour their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 commitments despite ODI series in Pakistan overlapping with playoffs. On May 7, CA announced three-ODI series' schedule against Pakistan which will begin on May 30, the eve of IPL 2026 final. But, Australia are likely to field a second-string squad against Pakistan once again.
The ODI series will be played from May 30 to June 4. The IPL 2026 playoffs will begin on May 26 and the final is scheduled to take place on May 31 at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.
Considering the current scenario, Mitchell Marsh may lead the ODI side once again instead of Pat Cummins who is Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) captain. Marsh's Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are one loss away from getting knocked out of playoffs race whereas Cummins-led SRH are at the top of the points table with seven wins from 11 games.
Question mark over several Aussies’ availability for Pakistan tour
Along with Marsh, Josh Inglis is expected to be available for the Pakistan ODI series as well. There is a question mark over several other Australian players. A decision on availability of several Australian players — SRH's Travis Head, Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) Josh Hazlewood and Tim David, Punjab Kings' (PBKS) Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Conolly and Ben Dwarshuis, Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) Matt Short and Spencer Johnson along with Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) Cameron Green, Delhi Capitals’ (DC) Mitchell Starc – is likely to be taken as the tournament progresses. Marcus Stoinis is the only Australian player who has retired from ODIs and is playing in the IPL 2026.
Pace trio and Head to miss Pakistan series
However, a report by cricket.com.au, Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood and even Head are likely to miss the ODI series against Pakistan. The Pakistan ODI tour is followed by a white-ball series on Bangladesh soil featured three ODIs and as many T20Is. The trio may end up missing the Bangladesh series as well to manage their workloads.
Australia have reinforcements in place
The Australian squad will touch down in Pakistan on May 23, a week ahead of the series to begin their preparation. Meanwhile, pacer Nathan Ellis, who got ruled out of IPL 2026 due to injury, has resumed bowling. Also, Oliver Peake, Joel Davis, Tanveer Sangha and Nikhil Chaudhary were seen training in the camps in Brisbane weeks ahead of the ODI series.