Sydney, May 7: Australian star players are set to prioritize the IPL 2026 over the upcoming ODI series against Pakistan. Captain Pat Cummins, along with Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, are reportedly opting out of the series due to scheduling conflicts with the IPL 2026 final on May 31.
According to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the ODI series will commence on May 30. The first match is scheduled to take place in Rawalpindi, followed by the second match on June 2, and the final match on June 4 in Lahore.
The ODI series clashes with the IPL 2026 schedule. The group stage of the IPL will conclude on May 24, allowing players from teams outside the top four to participate in the series. However, players from the teams reaching the playoffs will not be available for the ODI matches.
As reported by ‘Cricbuzz’, Cricket Australia (CA) will allow its players to fulfill their IPL commitments without interruption. A CA spokesperson stated, “Australian players will remain in the IPL and fulfill their commitments.”
Currently, there are 13 Australian players participating in the IPL, including Cummins, Mitchell Marsh, Travis Head, Tim David, Josh Hazlewood, Javier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Marcus Stoinis, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Mitchell Starc, and Matthew Short. Only Starc, Inglis, Green, and Short are not in the top four teams. If there are no significant changes in the points table, Australia will miss several key players on their tour to Pakistan.
Another report from ‘The West Australian’ claims that even if Cummins, Starc, and Hazlewood are available, they may be rested for the series against Pakistan and the subsequent series against Bangladesh. This decision comes as all three players have recently recovered from injuries following the Ashes series. Cummins has played only two ODIs since the 2023 World Cup. If he misses this series, he will next appear in the 50-over format during the tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa in September.
My name is Narendra Jijhontiya. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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