Cricket Australia have officially announced their ODI squad for Pakistan series, with Mitchell Marsh set to captain a relatively new-look side during the three-match series later this month.
While the squad still contains several experienced international players, the major talking point remains the absence of many of Australia’s biggest stars, as selectors look to manage workloads and give younger players valuable international exposure.
Why Australia’s Main Stars Are Missing
Several senior Australian cricketers are missing from the ODI squad for Pakistan series because of their commitments in the ongoing IPL 2026 season. Players including the regular skipper Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Travis Head are still involved with their respective IPL franchises, many of whom are competing for playoff qualification. Cricket Australia decided not to recall those players midway through the tournament.
Apart from the IPL, Australia are also carefully managing the workload of their multi-format stars ahead of a busy international calendar later this year. With important ICC tournaments and Test assignments approaching, selectors preferred to rest some key players and avoid injury risks.
Mitchell Marsh to Lead the ODI squad for Pakistan Series
In the absence of regular captain Pat Cummins, experienced all-rounder and T20I Captain Mitchell Marsh will lead the side.
Marsh has already captained Australia in ODI cricket before and is regarded as one of the senior leaders in the dressing room. His aggressive approach and experience make him an ideal option for the Pakistan tour.
The ODI squad for Pakistan series still includes several established names such as Adam Zampa, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green and Marnus Labuschagne which can change the match on its head on any given day.
Read more: How will Australia cope with the absence of Cummins Hazlewood and Starc?
Young Players Receive Big Opportunity
The series will also provide Australia’s younger generation with a chance to impress on the international stage.Teenage batting prospect and Australia’s U-19 Captain Ollie Peake has earned his maiden ODI call-up after impressive performances in domestic cricket. All-rounder Liam Scott has also been rewarded with a place in the squad after delivering really good performances in the recently concluded Sheffield shield trophy.
Australia’s selectors appear focused on building squad depth and identifying future stars ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Late start of the matches Due to the Summer Heat
One of the most interesting aspects of the series schedule is the late starting times for the matches. The ODI games are expected to begin at 4:30 PM local time and continue into the evening because of the extreme summer temperatures in Pakistan during May and June.
Daytime temperatures in cities like Lahore and Rawalpindi can rise above 40°C, making it difficult for players to compete comfortably during the peak afternoon time. To reduce the impact of the heat on players and spectators, the PCB scheduled the matches later in the day so that a major portion of the game can be played under lights in comparatively cooler conditions.
Pakistan vs Australia ODI Series Schedule
1st ODI
Date: May 30, 2026
Venue: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
Time: 4:30 PM PST
2nd ODI
Date: June 2, 2026
Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Time: 4:30 PM PST
3rd ODI
Date: June 4, 2026
Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Time: 4:30 PM PST
Australia ODI Squad for Pakistan Series
- Mitchell Marsh (captain)
- Alex Carey
- Josh Inglis
- Cameron Green
- Marnus Labuschagne
- Adam Zampa
- Sean Abbott
- Nathan Ellis
- Matthew Renshaw
- Matt Short
- Tanveer Sangha
- Ollie Peake
- Liam Scott
- Billy Stanlake
- Matthew Kuhnemann
Despite missing several star names, this Australian ODI squad for the Pakistan series possesses enough quality to challenge Pakistan in home conditions. Meanwhile, Pakistan will look to take full advantage of the visitors’ relatively inexperienced lineup in what promises to be an exciting ODI series.
