Australia’s ODI series in Pakistan overlaps with IPL 2026 playoffs, making the availability of several top Australian stars highly unlikely ahead of a packed international calendar.

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Australia’s premier fast-bowling trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are unlikely to feature in the upcoming ODI series against Pakistan as the tour schedule clashes with the IPL 2026 playoffs.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed on Thursday that the three-match ODI series will begin on May 30 in Rawalpindi, followed by the remaining matches in Lahore on June 2 and June 4. The series forms the second half of Australia’s white-ball tour of Pakistan after the T20I leg was played earlier this year ahead of the T20 World Cup.

Australia will then travel directly to Bangladesh for another white-ball assignment consisting of three ODIs and three T20Is starting from June 9.

The scheduling overlap with the IPL playoffs is expected to heavily impact Australia’s squad selection. The IPL regular season concludes on May 24, while the playoffs run from May 26 to May 31. Australia’s ODI squad is expected to depart for Pakistan on May 23, meaning players involved in the IPL knockout stage will likely miss the tour.

Pat Cummins, Travis Head and Xavier Bartlett are almost certain to be unavailable as Sunrisers Hyderabad currently sit at the top of the IPL standings. Cooper Connolly, representing Punjab Kings, could also miss out with PBKS placed second on the table. Josh Hazlewood’s Royal Challengers Bengaluru are also in strong playoff contention.

Mitchell Starc’s Delhi Capitals remain outside the top four but still have a slim chance of qualifying, while Cameron Green’s Kolkata Knight Riders would require a remarkable turnaround to stay alive in the playoff race.

Meanwhile, Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis are expected to be available for national duty as Lucknow Super Giants are close to elimination from the tournament. Matt Short could also join the squad if Chennai Super Kings fail to secure a playoff berth.

Even beyond IPL commitments, Cricket Australia is reportedly cautious about managing the workload of Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood. The pace trio entered the IPL late after recovering from injuries, and selectors are keen to keep them fresh ahead of a demanding stretch of international cricket.

Australia are set to play 20, potentially 21, Test matches over the next 12 months, beginning with a home Test series against Bangladesh in August. Because of that workload, the selectors may opt to rest the senior quicks entirely from both the Pakistan and Bangladesh white-ball tours.

Pat Cummins has played only two white-ball internationals since Australia’s ODI World Cup triumph in 2023. If rested again, his next ODI appearance could come during Australia’s Zimbabwe and South Africa tour in September.

Travis Head may also be rested after a lengthy IPL campaign to prepare for the busy international season ahead. Cameron Green, despite mixed form, remains an important part of Australia’s long-term plans across all formats. Selectors could still include him in the Pakistan and Bangladesh tours to help him gain valuable experience in Asian conditions.

Australia are expected to field a relatively young squad, similar to the T20I series played in Pakistan earlier this year. Experienced names like Alex Carey, Adam Zampa and Marnus Labuschagne are likely to provide stability, while Matt Renshaw has strengthened his place in the white-ball setup through consistent performances.

Fast bowler Nathan Ellis has reportedly resumed bowling after recovering from a hamstring tendon injury that ruled him out of the IPL. Young talents including Tanveer Sangha, Ollie Peake, Joel Davies and Nikhil Chaudhary have also joined training camps in Brisbane as Cricket Australia begins preparations for the tour.