All Australian Players Out Of PAK vs AUS ODIs Due To IPL

Several Australia players out of Pakistan ODI series [Source: AFP]

The growing overlap between franchise leagues and international cricket has been forcing cricket boards and players into difficult balancing acts. With lucrative T20 tournaments like Indian Premier League (IPL) occupying a major window in the cricketing calendar, several national teams have often found themselves deprived of its full-strength squads.

While players tend to make themselves available for big ICC events, bilateral series seem to have taken a huge hit over the last few years. Even the Australian cricket team is currently navigating that predicament ahead of their upcoming three-match away ODI series against Pakistan, largely owing to the IPL 2026 season.

Several first-choice Australia players will not be able to participate in the series, either owing to their IPL 2026 commitments or due to the injuries they sustained in India. Here is a look at all Australia players who have been ruled out of their upcoming ODI series against Pakistan owing to the IPL 2026.

1. Travis Head

Travis Head remains one of the integral members of the SRH squad. The ‘Orange Army’, under the leadership of Ishan Kishan and Pat Cummins, has already qualified for the IPL 2026 playoffs. If SRH reaches the final, their schedule will coincide with the early phase of the Pakistan vs Australia ODI series.

2. Pat Cummins

Much like Travis Head, SRH captain Pat Cummins is set to remain committed to his IPL franchise over the next few days. The legendary Australian fast bowler recently made his return to competitive cricket after a gap of more than four months owing to an injury concern.

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Since his return, Cummins has bagged eight wickets in seven innings for the SRH, and will continue to lead the franchise in the all-important IPL 2026 playoffs.

3. Josh Hazlewood

Champion Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood missed the entire 2025-26 Ashes series and the 2026 T20 World Cup owing to an injury. The cricketer recently made his return to the field after an extensive injury layoff, doing so for the RCB franchise in IPL 2026.

With RCB topping the points table and reaching the playoffs, they are certain to play at least two matches, which has prompted Cricket Australia (CA) to exclude him from the Pakistan series.

4. Mitchell Marsh

Mitchell Marsh was scheduled to lead Australia as stand-in skipper in the upcoming ODI series against Pakistan. However, the senior all-rounder suffered an ankle injury while playing for the LSG franchise in IPL 2026.

Marsh’s injury forced him to withdraw from the tour, and prompted CA to appoint Josh Inglis, effectively as a ‘stand-in captain for a stand-in captain’.

5. Mitchell Starc

Legendary Australian paceman Mitchell Starc has been rested from the series against Pakistan as part of his workload management. After playing the Ashes and BBL 2025-26 in Australia, Starc made his return to the field for the IPL 2026 season after a gap of over three months.

The speedster played just six matches for the Delhi Capitals franchise, picking up 11 wickets in the process at an impressive bowling average of 20.36.

6. Cooper Connolly

When Cooper Connolly was left out of the Australia squad for the Pakistan series, his Punjab Kings franchise appeared bound for the IPL 2026 playoffs. However, a dramatic collapse in the second half unexpectedly resulted in Punjab Kings’ elimination from the tournament.

Getting rested from the Pakistan tour owing to IPL 2026, Connolly will join the Australian squad for the subsequent tour of Bangladesh.

7. Xavier Bartlett

Much like Cooper Connolly, Australia fast bowler Xavier Bartlett was also left out of the national squad as the Punjab Kings franchise was expected to play the IPL 2026 season. The speedster recently played nine matches for the franchise, picking up just five wickets at an expensive bowling average of 77.60.

8. Ben Dwarshuis

Australia fast bowler Ben Dwarshuis faced the same fate as his Punjab Kings teammates Cooper Connolly and Xavier Bartlett. Dwarshuis was part of the PBKS team this IPL 2026, but ended up playing just one match for the franchise in the entire tournament.

The 31-year-old, however, has been named in Australia squad for the ODI series in Bangladesh next month alongside Connolly and Bartlett.

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