Cricket Australia (CA) has confirmed that its players will be allowed to complete their commitments in the Indian Premier League without interruption, despite a scheduling overlap with the upcoming ODI series in Pakistan. A CA spokesperson told Cricbuzz that Australian players “will still be in the IPL and will complete their commitments.”
The clarification follows the announcement of a three-match ODI series between Australia and Pakistan, jointly confirmed by CA and the Pakistan Cricket Board on May 7. The series is scheduled for May 30, June 2, and June 4, with Australian players originally expected to arrive in Islamabad on May 23—dates that coincide with the final stages of the IPL, which concludes on May 31.
A number of prominent Australian players are currently participating in the IPL, including Pat Cummins, Mitchell Marsh, Travis Head, Tim David, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Cameron Green, among others.
While the IPL league stage concludes on May 24—by which time several teams will be eliminated—players from franchises still in playoff contention may be required to stay until the end of the tournament. Teams such as Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings, currently among the top sides, are expected to retain their full squads for the playoffs.
Franchise officials have confirmed that all contracted players, including Australians, will honour their IPL commitments and will not leave mid-season. Additionally, CA is yet to announce its squad for the Pakistan series, raising the possibility that selections could be made in a way that avoids conflict with IPL duties.
The upcoming ODI series will mark Australia’s first bilateral tour of Pakistan since March-April 2022. Earlier this year, Australia toured Pakistan for a T20I series in January-February, where the hosts secured a 3-0 victory at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.
