The dates for Australia's upcoming tour of Pakistan are out, and a clash with the playoffs of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 can clearly be observed.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently announced the dates and venues for the IPL Playoffs, with the final to be played on Sunday, May 31. The Pakistan tour, however, is set to begin on Saturday, May 30.
The first One-Day International (ODI) of the series will be played in Rawalpindi, but there are doubts whether Australia will be able to carry a full-strength squad for all the matches in the Pakistan series, since a majority of their mainstays are currently plying their trades in the neighbouring nation's cash-rich tournament.
Cricket Australia, however, has confirmed that the top pace trio of Pat Cummins (Sunrisers Hyderabad), Mitchell Starc (Delhi Capitals), and Josh Hazlewood (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) will not be taking part in the tour of Pakistan. The three will also be missing the subsequent white-ball series against Bangladesh as well, which includes three ODIs and as many T20Is beginning June 09 in Dhaka.
Australia tour of Pakistan 2026: Schedule
May 30: First ODI, Rawalpindi Stadium, Rawalpindi
June 2: Second ODI, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
June 4: Third ODI, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Players from franchises that do not make it to the top four of IPL 2026 are expected to arrive in Pakistan and feature for the national side with the first ODI itself. Mitchell Marsh, currently featuring for the Lucknow Super Giants, is likely to be appointed as the captain for the Pakistan ODIs. His LSG colleague Josh Inglis will also arrive in time and is also a frontrunner for leadership duties. The squad will be announced shortly.
Team-wise Australian cricketers playing in IPL 2026
| Team | Player(s) |
| Chennai Super Kings | Matt Short, Spencer Johnson (replaced Nathan Ellis) |
| Delhi Capitals | Mitchell Starc |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Josh Hazlewood, Tim David |
| Punjab Kings | Marcus Stoinis, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Mitchell Owen, Xavier Bartlett |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | Cameron Green |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | Pat Cummins, Travis Head, Jack Edwards |
| Lucknow Super Giants | Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh |
At the end of the Indian Premier League, almost all players will be available for the tour of Bangladesh for six white-ball encounters.
Australia tour of Bangladesh 2026: Schedule
June 9: First ODI, Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka
June 11: Second ODI, Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka
June 14: Third ODI, Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka
June 17: First T20I, Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium, Chattogram
June 19: Second T20I, Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium, Chattogram
June 21: Third T20I, Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium, Chattogram
