The "Big Three" - Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood are set to miss Australia’s three-match ODI series against Pakistan, but for a reason that highlights the growing tension between international schedules and lucrative franchise leagues. The series is scheduled for May 30 to June 4, 2026. This directly overlaps with the IPL 2026 playoffs and final, which are slated for May 26 to May 31. Pat Cummins who is currently leading SRH to top of the table in IPL 2026 and Josh Hazlewood who is part of RCB who are on the second number in points table are most likely to qualify for playoffs this season.
Mitchell Starc (DC) is also unlikely to join the tour early as Cricket Australia has prioritised allowing players to fulfil their franchise commitments during the tournament's business end. Travis Head who is also playing a key role as the opener in SRH, might also be missing the series. In the absence of experienced players, the question arises on who will lead Australia against Pakistan. With Cummins absent, Josh Inglis is the frontrunner to lead the side, having previously stepped in during the 2024 series.
Who will lead pace attack against Pakistan?
Australia will likely rely on Spencer Johnson, Xavier Bartlett, and Sean Abbott to lead the attack. In the absence of Head and potentially others, Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matt Short are expected to be given a long rope at the top of the order. This series was originally part of a larger tour but was split due to the packed international calendar. Immediately following this series, the squad is scheduled to travel to Bangladesh for a six-match white-ball tour starting June 9.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officially confirmed the schedule on May 7, 2026. To mitigate the extreme summer heat, all matches will feature a late start time. Players from franchises that fail to qualify for the top four, potentially including Mitchell Marsh, Josh Inglis, and Cameron Green could join the squad in Islamabad by May 23.
