Australian stars to skip Pakistan ODIs for IPL 2026 playoffs, says CA
Synopsis
Australia's Pakistan ODI tour faces a squad decimation as Cricket Australia formally allows its IPL-contracted stars — led by captain Pat Cummins and fast bowlers Hazlewood and Starc — to stay in the franchise tournament through the playoffs and final on 31 May. The scheduling collision exposes the growing power of league cricket over bilateral commitments, leaving Pakistan without half of Australia's playing strength.
Key Takeaways
Cricket Australia has confirmed that Australian players will complete their IPL 2026 commitments and miss the Pakistan ODI tour (30 May–4 June) .
Captain Pat Cummins , Josh Hazlewood , and Mitchell Starc will be unavailable due to the clash with the IPL final on 31 May .
13 Australian players are currently in the IPL 2026 ; only four play for teams outside the top four.
Hazlewood and Starc are also being rested for injury management after the Ashes series .
This reflects a broader trend of franchise cricket taking priority over bilateral international series.
Cricket Australia will allow its top players, including captain Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc, to prioritise their IPL 2026 commitments over the three-match ODI tour of Pakistan later this month, according to reports. The scheduling clash sees Australia's tour begin on 30 May in Rawalpindi, with the remaining matches on 2 and 4 June in Lahore, directly overlapping with the IPL 2026 playoffs and final on 31 May.
The IPL conflict
The IPL 2026 group stage concludes on 24 May, after which the top four teams advance to the playoffs. A Cricket Australia spokesperson confirmed to Cricbuzz that "Australian players will still be in the IPL and will complete their commitments," effectively signalling that squad availability for the Pakistan series will be severely limited.
Who will miss the tour
Currently, 13 Australian players are involved in the IPL 2026: Cummins, Mitchell Marsh, Travis Head, Tim David, Hazlewood, Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Marcus Stoinis, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Starc, and Matthew Short. Only Starc, Inglis, Green, and Short play for teams currently outside the top four; if standings remain unchanged, Australia will be without most of its senior batting and bowling lineup.
Injury management also cited
A separate report in The West Australian indicated that Hazlewood and Starc are being rested from both the Pakistan series and the subsequent Bangladesh tour to manage workload after the recent Ashes series. Cummins has played only two ODIs since Australia's 2023 World Cup triumph, and missing the Pakistan tour would leave him with a September tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa as his next international assignment.
The broader pattern
This marks the latest instance of franchise cricket commitments overriding bilateral series in the international calendar. The PCB scheduled the tour without apparent coordination with IPL 2026 dates, a recurring friction point between cricket boards as franchise leagues expand their financial and scheduling influence.
Point of View
But the deeper issue is structural: franchise leagues have become so financially dominant that boards now treat them as non-negotiable, even at the cost of international credibility. Pakistan loses a meaningful contest; Australia fields a second XI; and bilateral cricket's already-fractured calendar splinters further.
NationPress
28 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Australian players missing the Pakistan ODI tour?
The Pakistan ODI tour (30 May–4 June) overlaps with the IPL 2026 playoffs and final (31 May). Cricket Australia has formally allowed players to complete their IPL commitments, prioritising franchise cricket over the bilateral series.
Which Australian players will miss the Pakistan tour?
Captain Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and other IPL-contracted stars will be unavailable. In total, 13 Australian players are in the IPL 2026, and most play for teams expected to reach the playoffs.
When does the Pakistan ODI tour take place?
Australia's Pakistan ODI tour begins on 30 May in Rawalpindi, with matches on 2 and 4 June in Lahore. The tour directly clashes with the IPL 2026 final on 31 May.
Is injury management also a factor?
Yes. Reports indicate that Hazlewood and Starc are being rested from both the Pakistan and Bangladesh tours to manage workload following the Ashes series.
How many Australian players are in the IPL 2026?
There are 13 Australian players in the IPL 2026, including Cummins, Marsh, Head, David, Hazlewood, Bartlett, Connolly, Stoinis, Inglis, Green, Starc, and Short.
