Australia are set to tour Pakistan for a three-match ODI series starting May 30 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, with the remaining two games at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on June 2 and June 4. The touring side will reach Islamabad on May 23, a week before the first match of the series.
This is the first bilateral ODI series in Pakistan for Australia since 2022, when they won 2-1. Both teams will be looking to develop partnerships in the 50-over format with the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup coming up next year.
Full Series Schedule and Venues
The three games are divided between two cities. The opener will be played in Rawalpindi on May 30, followed by the last two matches in Lahore at Gaddafi Stadium on June 2 and June 4.
After the Pakistan series, Australia will head straight for Bangladesh for three ODIs in Dhaka from June 9 and three T20Is in Chattogram from June 17. It’s a tough doubleheader that will put the depth of Australia’s squad to the test.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has recently lost a 2-1 ODI series to Bangladesh and will be looking to come back on home soil. They will then be returning to Bangladesh for a two-match Test series after the PSL.
IPL Clash Puts Senior Australian Players in Doubt
The main problem with this tour is that the players are not available. The playoffs of the IPL 2026 will be held from 26th May to 31st May, which coincides with the start of Australia’s tour. The squad is leaving on May 23, and players who are deep in the IPL knockout stages are not expected to be part of the squad.
Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc are all likely to be absent from the series.
Cummins captains Sunrisers Hyderabad, Hazlewood is playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, while Starc is playing for Delhi Capitals. Travis Head, Cooper Connolly and Xavier Bartlett are also in doubt as SRH and Punjab Kings are in the top two of the IPL table. Cricket Australia has announced that it will not be releasing players from the IPL early.
In addition to scheduling, workload management is also a factor. All three frontline pacers are being looked after carefully before embarking on a gruelling run of approximately 20 Tests in 12 months, starting with Bangladesh at home in August. To keep them fresh, selectors can choose not to include them in both tours.
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Fringe Players Set to Lead Australia’s Touring Party
Australia are likely to be playing a second-tier team as their senior players are unavailable. Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis are expected to be available, as Lucknow Super Giants are unlikely to be in the playoff race. Also on the list of potential players are Adam Zampa, Alex Carey, Marnus Labuschagne and Matt Renshaw.
Legspinner Tanveer Sangha, Victoria batter Ollie Peake and uncapped allrounders Joel Davies and Nikhil Chaudhary have been training with Australia’s coaching staff in Brisbane. Also returned fit is reportedly Nathan Ellis, who missed the home summer due to a hamstring tendon injury.
For these players, the Pakistan and Bangladesh tours represent a real opportunity. With the World Cup on the horizon and selectors watching closely, strong performances in subcontinental conditions could go a long way in securing a regular place in Australia’s setup.
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