Australia will tour Pakistan for a three-match ODI series starting May 30, 2026. Key players may miss the IPL playoffs due to their commitments to the national team.
Key points
Australia will tour Pakistan for a three-match ODI series
The series starts on May 30, 2026
Key players may be unavailable due to IPL commitments
This is Australia's first ODI tour of Pakistan since 2022
Australia will tour Pakistan for a three-match ODI series starting May 30.
Several key players may be unavailable due to IPL commitments and rest rotation.
It will be Australia's first ODI tour of Pakistan since 2022.
PAK vs AUS 2026: Australia head to Pakistan for first ODI series in four years
Australia are heading back to Pakistan for a 50-over series for the first time since 2022, with the Pakistan Cricket Board confirming the tour on Thursday.
That previous visit, four years ago, ended in a 2-1 series victory for the hosts. Earlier this year, Australia also toured Pakistan for a three-match T20I assignment, where they were swept 3-0 in Lahore.
The touring party is scheduled to land in Islamabad on May 23, with the first of three ODIs set for Rawalpindi on May 30. The final two matches move to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on June 2 and June 4, with all three games beginning at 4:30 pm local time.
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Will Australia players play IPL 2026 playoffs?
The opening ODI falls a day before the IPL 2026 final at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium, meaning players whose franchises reach the playoff stage will almost certainly not be available at the start of the tour.
Players who might be eliminated earlier in the competition, among them ODI captain Mitchell Marsh (Delhi Capitals), wicketkeeper Josh Inglis (Lucknow Super Giants), and Cameron Green (Kolkata Knight Riders), could realistically make it to Rawalpindi in time for the first match.
Which Australian players are likely to miss out on the Pakistan tour?
Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Travis Head are expected to be rested ahead of the Test series against Bangladesh in August, making this series a likely opportunity for fringe players to stake their claims.
Cooper Connolly, Xavier Bartlett, Ben Dwarshuis, and Matthew Short may also be given some time away ahead of Australia's white-ball tour of Bangladesh in June.
On the other hand, Alex Carey, Adam Zampa, and Marnus Labuschagne, featured in the Pakistan Super League recently, and are likely to be available.
Nathan Ellis, who missed the IPL with a hamstring problem, has returned to bowling and could feature, while Matthew Renshaw is also in contention.
Pakistan vs Australia ODI 2026 schedule list
Date
Event
Venue
May 23
Australia arrive
Islamabad
May 30
1st ODI
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
June 2
2nd ODI
Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
June 4
3rd ODI
Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
IPL 2026 Playoff Schedule
The summit clash will be held on May 31, and the venue has been changed from M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, to Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.
Match
Date
Venue
Teams
Qualifier 1
May 26, 2026
HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala
1st place vs 2nd place
Eliminator
May 27, 2026
New International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh
3rd place vs 4th place
Qualifier 2
May 29, 2026
New International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh
Loser of Q1 vs Winner of Eliminator
Final
May 31, 2026
Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Winner of Q1 vs Winner of Q2
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