Desk Correspondent , New Delhi - Australia will head into the upcoming ODI series against Pakistan without several of their biggest stars, as IPL 2026 commitments force a major squad reshuffle. Cricket Australia confirmed that Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Cooper Connolly, Xavier Bartlett and Travis Head will miss the three-match ODI series beginning May 30.
The six players will remain in India for the ongoing IPL 2026 season, with most of them expected to play crucial roles in the playoffs. Cummins and Head are likely to feature for Sunrisers Hyderabad, Hazlewood for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, while Cooper Connolly and Xavier Bartlett remain part of Punjab Kings’ campaign. Starc’s playing for Delhi Capitals are also still mathematically alive in the playoff race. Meanwhile, Australia have included Mitchell Marsh, Cameron Green and Josh Inglis in the squad for the Pakistan tour. Marsh and Inglis, whose Lucknow Super Giants are already out of playoff contention, are available for selection, while Green could still face uncertainty if Kolkata Knight Riders qualify for the IPL playoffs.
The ODI series against Pakistan will be played on May 30, June 2 and June 4 in Rawalpindi and Lahore before Australia travel to Bangladesh for a white-ball series featuring three ODIs and three T20Is.
Australia chair of selectors George Bailey defended the squad overhaul, saying the tour provides a valuable opportunity to test young talent alongside experienced players in subcontinent conditions. However, the absence of several senior stars due to IPL commitments has once again highlighted the growing clash between franchise cricket and international schedules.
Sunrisers Hyderabad endured a tough outing as they suffered an 82-run defeat to Gujarat Titans, while skipper Pat Cummins was fined ₹12 lakh for a slow over-rate offence, compounding the team’s misery.
May 12, 2025, when India bid farewell to one of its biggest Test cricketers as Virat Kohli announced his retirement from the longest format. One year later, fans still miss his passion and presence in whites.
Axar Patel and David Miller turned out to be champions for Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala and kept their IPL 2026 playoff hopes alive with a sensational win against Punjab Kings.
The IPL 2026 match between the RCB and the Mumbai Indians proved to be most thrilling match of the season.
.jpeg)
Virat Kohli has played 34 innings against MI and averages 32.40 against them with a strike rate of 128.
The IPL 2026 playoff race is heating up as the Chennai Super Kings and Lucknow Super Giants prepare for a crucial clash in Chennai this Sunday. Both teams are desperate for a win to keep their playoff hopes alive.
with Shreyas Iyer emerging as the frontrunner for the role
The duo had earlier shared the dressing room while representing Lucknow Super Giants during the 2023 and 2024 IPL seasons
.jpeg)
Asked to bat, LSG posted 209/3, powered by Marsh’s blistering 111 off 56 balls, an innings studded with nine fours and nine sixes
highlighting the broader transition phase Indian cricket is currently undergoing
US has paused Project Freedom in the Strait of Hormuz for now, as talks with Ira...
Governor presented citations to several outstanding units of the Army, Assam Rif...
Pune Tourist Rescued Following 150-Foot Plunge at Sinhagad Fort While Taking Pho...
Twin Blasts Near Military Establishments Put Punjab on High Alert
