Australia could travel to Pakistan without several of their biggest stars, as players involved in the IPL playoffs are expected to stay back and complete their franchise commitments.
Cricket Australia has reportedly decided not to pull players out of IPL 2026, even though the league clashes with Australia’s upcoming ODI series in Pakistan. The three-match series begins on May 30, while the IPL final is scheduled for May 31 — creating a direct overlap between international cricket and the world’s biggest T20 league.
As things stand, players like Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis may miss part, or even all, of the ODI series if their IPL teams make the playoffs.
The decision highlights just how powerful the IPL has become in world cricket. A few years ago, international duty would almost always come first. But now, with packed schedules and massive franchise commitments, cricket boards are becoming more flexible.
For Australia, workload management is also a major factor. Senior bowlers such as Cummins, Hazlewood and Starc have had hectic schedules across formats, and reports suggest the team management is keen to avoid overworking them before a long international season ahead.
For Pakistan fans, though, it’s a slightly disappointing update. An Australia tour always brings excitement, especially when the full-strength side is involved. If several senior players are unavailable, the series could lose some of its edge and star power.
That said, not all hope is lost. Australian players whose IPL teams fail to qualify for the playoffs could still join the squad before the series begins. So the final composition of Australia’s squad may depend heavily on how the IPL points table shapes up in the coming weeks.
The ODI series will begin in Rawalpindi before moving to Lahore for the remaining matches. Until then, fans in both countries will be closely following not just Australia’s preparations — but the IPL playoff race as well.
