Australia Players Will Stay for Full IPL, Won’t Leave Early for Pakistan ODIs

Cricket Australia has made it clear that its players will complete their full IPL season before leaving for the ODI series in Pakistan.

A Cricket Australia spokesperson confirmed this to Cricbuzz, saying the Australian players “will still be in the IPL and will finish their commitments.” Around twelve Australian cricketers are currently playing in the IPL.

This news comes after Australia and Pakistan announced a three-match ODI series on Thursday. The matches are set for May 30, June 2 and June 4. Australian players were scheduled to reach Islamabad on May 23. But that date clashes with the final stages of the IPL, which ends on May 31.

The Australian players in the IPL include big names like Pat Cummins, Mitchell Marsh, Travis Head, Tim David, Josh Hazlewood, Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc. Many of them are part of teams still fighting for the playoffs.

The league stage of the IPL will end on May 24. By then, six teams will be out of the tournament, so some players will be free. But those like Cummins, Head, David, Hazlewood and others may need to stay longer if their teams reach the playoffs.

Officials from Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings, currently the top two teams, confirmed that all Australian players will honour their contracts. They will not leave the tournament early.

Cricket Australia has not yet picked the squad for the Pakistan series. The selection could be done in a way that avoids any clash with the IPL.

This will be Australia’s first ODI series in Pakistan since March-April 2022. Earlier this year, Australia lost a T20I series 3-0 in Lahore.

                                               

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