Mitchell Marsh [Source: AFP]Australia have made an important change to their squad ahead of the ODI series against Pakistan. Star all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has been ruled out due to an ankle injury, and Australia have now announced young talent Cooper Connolly as his replacement for the upcoming series.Meanwhile, wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis will lead the Australian side during the tour. The ODI series is scheduled to begin on May 30 in Rawalpindi. Following that match, the remaining two games will take place at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on June 2 and June 4.Australia Suffer Big Blow Ahead Of Pakistan ODI SeriesIt is important to note that Mitchell Marsh recently returned to Australia after completing his IPL 2026 campaign with LSG. Notably, he missed LSG’s final match of the season against Punjab Kings. Earlier, Mitchell Marsh had also travelled back home after the match against Rajasthan Royals on May 19. Even though Marsh was expected to captain Australia in Pakistan, his ankle problem prevented him from travelling with the squad.Notably, Cricket Australia are taking extra precautions regarding Mitchell Marsh’s fitness. Notably, he has faced serious ankle injuries in the past as well. At this stage, his availability for the Bangladesh tour remains uncertain. Australia are scheduled to play three ODIs in Dhaka from June 9, followed by a three-match T20I series in Chattogram starting on June 17.Cooper Connolly Added As Mitchell Marsh ReplacementIn another important development, Cooper Connolly has joined the Australian squad after finishing his IPL commitments. Notably, Punjab Kings narrowly missed a playoff spot and finished fifth on the points table with 15 points from 14 matches. Following Punjab’s exit, Connolly became available for national duty and is now expected to join the Australian squad.Also Read: All Australian Players Out Of PAK vs AUS ODIs Due To IPLCooper Connolly Arrives In Pakistan In Excellent FormIt is worth noting that Connolly enters the series in outstanding form. During the IPL 2026 season, he scored 491 runs in 13 innings at an impressive strike rate of 163.12. In addition, he registered one century and two half-centuries, showing excellent consistency with the bat throughout the tournament.Apart from his batting skills, Connolly also provides value as a useful all-rounder. He made his ODI debut for Australia against England in 2024. Since then, he has played eight ODIs, scoring 94 runs at an average of 31.33. Furthermore, he has picked up six wickets with an economy rate of 5.26, proving his effectiveness with the ball as well.Interestingly, Connolly was already included in Australia’s ODI squad for the Bangladesh series. Therefore, his selection for the Pakistan tour gives him another big opportunity to strengthen his place in the national team.The upcoming series is also significant for another reason. Australia have not played a bilateral ODI series in Pakistan since March-April 2022. During that tour, Pakistan secured a 2-1 series victory. Earlier in 2026, Australia visited Pakistan for a T20I series, where the hosts dominated the visitors with a 3-0 clean sweep in Lahore.Also Read: IPL 2026 Final Ticket Guide: When, Where, How To Buy IPL Final Tickets?
