AUS vs PAK: Pakistan’s ploy will not succeed!, 3 strong Australians will skip the tour for IPL

By Samira Vishwas On May 8, 2026

Australia tour of Pakistan: The impact of IPL 2026 is now visible on the international cricket schedule as well. Many big players of Australia may be out of Pakistan tour, because the dates of the ODI series against Pakistan clash with the IPL playoffs. In such a situation, it is considered difficult for star players like Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood to play in this tour.

Pakistan Cricket Board on Thursday released the schedule of 3-match ODI series against Australia. The first match of the series will be played in Rawalpindi on 30th May while the second and third ODI will be played in Lahore on 2nd and 4th June. After this, the Australian team will go directly to Bangladesh tour, where three ODIs and 3 T20s will be played from June 9.

Cummins-Starc will not go on Pakistan tour
The problem is that the league stage of IPL 2026 will end on May 24 and the playoff matches will run from May 26 to 31. The Australian team is to leave for Pakistan on 23 May. In such a situation, the chances of the players who will be busy in the IPL playoffs being left out of the Pakistan tour are quite high.

Cummins is captaining Hyderabad
Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings are currently at first and second position in the points table. In such a situation, it is almost certain that Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins, Travis Head and Punjab Kings’ Xavier Bartlett will play the playoffs. Whereas Royal Challengers Bangalore is at number three, due to which Josh Hazlewood may also be out of Pakistan tour.

Starc and Green may also withdraw from Pakistan tour
Delhi Capitals is currently at seventh place and Kolkata Knight Riders at eighth place. If these teams reach the playoffs, Mitchell Starc and Cameron Green will also be unavailable. However, Lucknow Super Giants are almost out of the race for the playoffs, so Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis are expected to go on the Pakistan tour.

Cricket Australia will manage the workload
According to reports, Cricket Australia wants to be extra careful about its fast bowlers. Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood have recently returned from injury and the selectors do not want to take a risk by playing them continuous cricket. Australia have to play around 20 Test matches in the next 12 months, starting with the home series against Bangladesh in August.

Australia ODI series vs Pakistan
1st ODI – 30 May in Rawalpindi
2nd ODI – June 2 in Lahore
3rd ODI – 4 June in Lahore

Australia can give opportunities to young players on this tour. Experienced players like Alex Carey, Adam Zampa and Marnus Labuschagne can be a part of the team. Young players like Tanveer Sangha, Ollie Peake, Joel Davis and Nikhil Chaudhary have been called to the training camp.