Mitchell Marsh ruled out of Pakistan ODIs, Josh Inglis to captain Australia
Synopsis
Australia arrive in Pakistan for a three-match ODI series without their top four captaincy choices fully available — Marsh joins Cummins, Head, and Hazlewood on the absentee list, leaving wicketkeeper Josh Inglis to lead a depleted side. It is the second time in under a year Inglis has been handed the captaincy against Pakistan under similar circumstances.
Key Takeaways
Mitchell Marsh has been ruled out of Australia's Pakistan ODI series with an ankle injury sustained during the IPL .
Josh Inglis will captain Australia as the fourth-choice leader, having previously captained the side against Pakistan in November 2024 .
Pat Cummins and Travis Head are also unavailable due to IPL playoff commitments; pace trio Hazlewood , Starc , and Cummins miss both the Pakistan and Bangladesh tours.
Marsh remains in Perth for further assessment; his availability for the Bangladesh white-ball tour is yet to be determined.
The three-match series begins on 30 May in Rawalpindi , followed by two games in Lahore on 2 and 4 June .
Mitchell Marsh has been ruled out of Australia's three-match ODI series against Pakistan due to an ankle injury sustained during the IPL, with wicketkeeper Josh Inglis confirmed as captain for the tour starting 30 May. The development leaves Australia heading into the series under their fourth-choice leader.
How the Injury Happened
Marsh sustained the ankle injury during his stint in the IPL and missed Lucknow Super Giants' final league game of the season. He has since returned to Perth for further assessment and treatment, and will not travel with the touring party to Pakistan.
Cricket Australia confirmed the development in an official statement: 'Mitchell Marsh has been ruled out of the ODI Series against Pakistan with an ankle injury. Wicketkeeper Josh Inglis will lead the Australian side in Pakistan in Marsh's absence.'
The governing body added that Marsh 'will remain in Perth for further assessment and treatment until further notice,' with his availability for the subsequent white-ball tour of Bangladesh to be determined at a later stage.
Australia's Leadership Crunch
Marsh had been set to lead the side in the absence of regular captain Pat Cummins, who is unavailable due to IPL playoff commitments. Vice-captain Travis Head is similarly tied up with the IPL and is expected to join the squad only after the tournament concludes. The cascading absences mean Inglis steps in as Australia's fourth-choice captain for the series.
Notably, Inglis has captained Australia before — against Pakistan in November 2024 — also in a context where multiple first-choice players were unavailable. That prior experience gives the wicketkeeper some familiarity with the role, though the circumstances remain far from ideal for selectors.
Key Absentees Beyond Marsh
Australia's touring group is further depleted by the absence of pace trio Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Cummins for both the Pakistan and Bangladesh white-ball assignments. The combination of injury and IPL scheduling has stripped the squad of several frontline names.
Marsh has not yet been replaced in the squad, leaving Cricket Australia selectors with a decision to make ahead of the opening game. Head's expected arrival post-IPL will provide some reinforcement for the Bangladesh leg of the tour.
Series Schedule and Squad
The ODI series will be played across Rawalpindi and Lahore, with the following schedule confirmed:
First ODI: 30 May, Rawalpindi
Second ODI: 2 June, Lahore
Third ODI: 4 June, Lahore
Australia squad: Josh Inglis (c), Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Riley Meredith, Oliver Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Tanveer Sangha, Liam Scott, Matt Short, Billy Stanlake, Adam Zampa.
Australia will head to Bangladesh for another limited-overs series after the Pakistan leg concludes, with Marsh's participation in that tour also uncertain pending his recovery progress.
Point of View
Not a one-off inconvenience. The fact that a side touring Pakistan arrives under its fourth-choice captain — with its top pace attack also absent — raises legitimate questions about Cricket Australia's scheduling negotiations with the IPL and its player-management framework. Inglis is a capable deputy, but repeatedly fielding weakened squads on subcontinental tours risks both bilateral goodwill and Australia's ODI World Cup preparation cycle. The Marsh injury compounds what was already a thin touring group, and selectors' delay in naming a replacement only adds to the uncertainty.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Mitchell Marsh been ruled out of the Pakistan ODI series?
Marsh has been ruled out due to an ankle injury sustained during the IPL. He missed Lucknow Super Giants' final IPL game and has returned to Perth for further assessment and treatment.
Who will captain Australia in the Pakistan ODI series?
Wicketkeeper Josh Inglis will captain Australia in the three-match ODI series against Pakistan. He is the fourth-choice leader after Pat Cummins, Travis Head, and Marsh all became unavailable.
Has Josh Inglis captained Australia before?
Yes, Inglis previously captained Australia once — against Pakistan in November 2024 — also in a situation where several first-choice players were unavailable.
Which other key players are missing from Australia's Pakistan tour?
Pace bowlers Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Pat Cummins are all absent from both the Pakistan and Bangladesh white-ball tours. Travis Head is also unavailable for the Pakistan leg due to IPL playoff commitments.
Will Mitchell Marsh play in Australia's Bangladesh tour?
Marsh's availability for the Bangladesh white-ball tour has not yet been confirmed. Cricket Australia stated his participation will be determined in due course, subject to his recovery progress in Perth.
