Key Australian Players to Miss Pakistan Series Due to IPL Clash

Sydney. Captain Pat Cummins and other key players will miss the one-day series against Pakistan as the schedule for the final stages of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 clashes with Australia's tour of Pakistan.

According to the schedule released by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday, Australia's tour of Pakistan will begin on May 30 in Rawalpindi. The regular season of the IPL ends on May 24, while the playoff matches will run from May 26 to May 31.

As Australia's one-day team is scheduled to depart for Pakistan on May 23, it is almost certain that players busy with IPL playoffs will not be part of the tour.

Pat Cummins and Travis Head from Sunrisers Hyderabad, currently at the top of the points table, along with Cooper Connolly and Xavier Bartlett from second-placed Punjab Kings, will not be able to go to Pakistan. Similarly, Josh Hazlewood from Royal Challengers Bangalore, in third place, is also likely to be out of the team.

Along with captain Cummins, fast bowler Mitchell Starc is also likely to be absent from the team. Cricket Australia (CA) has adopted a strategy of resting its key bowlers, keeping in mind the approximately 20 Test matches to be played in the next 12 months. It is understood that Cummins, Hazlewood, and Starc are being kept fresh for the home Test series against Bangladesh in August by not sending them on the Pakistan and subsequent Bangladesh tours.

Cummins has played only two limited-overs international matches for Australia since winning the 2023 World Cup. In the absence of key players, deputy captain Mitchell Marsh and wicketkeeper-batsman Josh Inglis are expected to lead the team, as their team Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) is almost out of the IPL playoff race. Experienced players like spinner Adam Zampa, Marnus Labuschagne, and Alex Carey will be available for the team.

Australian selectors are also preparing to give opportunities to young players on this tour. There is talk that young talents like Olly Pick, Joel Davies, and Nikhil Chaudhary could be included in the team. Fast bowler Nathan Ellis, who missed the IPL due to injury, has returned to practice after recovering from his injury, so he may find a place in the team. 

The three-match one-day series against Pakistan will be held on May 30, June 2, and June 4 in Rawalpindi and Lahore. Immediately after this, the Australian team will depart for Bangladesh to play three one-day and three T20 matches.