PAK vs AUS: Pakistan and Australia’s upcoming ODI series is facing a huge selection crisis even before a ball has been bowled. There is much excitement about the three-match series to be played in late May and early June but Cricket Australia (CA) has confirmed a decision that is a major blow to the prestige of the tour. Australia’s biggest stars are staying in India.
The IPL Overlap
The series, announced on Thursday, May 7 by the PCB and CA together, will be played on May 30, June 2 and June 4. But there is a huge scheduling conflict with the Indian Premier League (IPL) finals scheduled for May 31.
A CA spokesperson confirmed to Cricbuzz that Australian players will be permitted to fulfill their IPL commitments without interruption. “They will still be in the IPL and will complete their commitments,” the spokesperson stated. This decision effectively guts the Australian squad of its world-class core during the “business end” of the T20 tournament.
The Missing Stars
This decision has a profound ripple effect. World Cup heroes Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Travis Head and Josh Hazlewood are among the high-profile names that will not be part of the squad heading to Islamabad. The duo’s absence leaves a big hole in the leadership and the bowling fire-power of the visiting side.
What’s more, even the “next generation” and the T20 specialists are caught in the crossfire. Cooper Connolly, Xavier Bartlett, Ben Dwarshuis and Matthew Short will all miss the Pakistan series as they are involved in the IPL play-offs. Those IPL teams whose teams make the top four are virtually out of the ODI series with the Australian contingent due to arrive in Islamabad on May 23.
A “B” Team Heading to Islamabad?
With the big names gone, the PCB will probably send out a very experimental Australian side. Reports indicate the squad will now lean heavily on:
Likely to be included: Mitchell Marsh (possibly captain of the side), Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Marnus Labuschagne, Adam Zampa, Nathan Ellis, Matthew Renshaw.
New Faces Youngsters and domestic performers like Ollie Peake, Joel Davies, Tanveer Sangha and Nikhil Chaudhary are expected to feature to fill the gaps.
A Bitter Pill for the PCB
It’s a PR and commercial nightmare for Pakistan. Having fought so hard to bring world class international cricket back to the country, to now host an Australian side missing its four biggest icons – Cummins, Starc, Head and Hazlewood – seems like a “B-team” tour.
The PCB is sticking to the May 30 start but the optics of the series have changed from a heavyweight clash to a developmental exercise for Australia. A depleted Aussie squad might be a bitter pill to swallow for the Pakistani fans who want to watch the best in the world.
Debayan Bhattacharyya is a seasoned sports journalist and digital media professional, currently serving as the Chief Sub Editor at ITV Digital (NewsX). A true Football-Fanatic Bong, his professional journey began at Zee Media, where he kicked off his career as a Sub-Editor for the sports team at India.com and CricketCountry. His ability to blend insightful analysis with rapid-fire news delivery soon led him to Times Network, where he served as a Senior Copy Editor for Times Now. Before his current role at NewsX, Debayan spent a significant tenure at OneIndia’s MyKhel as a Senior Sub Editor.
