Published on: May 22, 2026 3:01 pm IST|Updated on: May 22, 2026 3:05 pm IST
PAK vs AUS: Pakistan is all set to host Australia in a 3-match ODI series from May 30 to June 4. The two teams will start the build-up to next year’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, and both Pakistan and Australia have announced their official squads for the upcoming series. With both teams introducing a fascinating mix of returning superstars and fresh, young faces, this series promises plenty of tactical battles and drama. Let’s dive straight into how both squads are shaping up!
After resting several key senior players during their last ODI series against Bangladesh back in March, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a powerful 16-member squad that sees the return of their absolute biggest match-winners.
Left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi will continue to lead the side, with the incredibly consistent Salman Ali Agha stepping up as his deputy. The biggest news for Pakistan fans is the return of batting anchor Babar Azam alongside the explosive pace duo of Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah and spin all-rounder Shadab Khan.
The selectors have kept an eye on future talent by naming three exciting, uncapped players in the squad: Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, and Rohail Nazir. Because regular keeper Usman Khan is unfortunately missing out due to an unexpected illness, Rohail Nazir and Muhammad Ghazi Ghori will share the wicketkeeping duties. However, experienced wicket-keeper batter Muhammad Rizwan has missed the opportunity to return to the ODI squad after enduring a lean run in the Pakistan Super League 2026.
On the injury front, opening batters Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub are still undergoing rehabilitation and were not risked for this series.
Pakistan ODI Squad:– Shaheen Shah Afridi (C), Salman Ali Agha (VC), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Maaz Sadaqat, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (WK), Naseem Shah, Rohail Nazir (WK), Sahibzada Farhan, Shadab Khan, Shamyl Hussain, Sufyan Moqim.
Over in the Australian camp, the squad looks quite a bit different from the one that lifted the 2023 World Cup trophy. Because this touring schedule clashes directly with the backend of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) season, the national selectors have rested or omitted several of their primary, frontline stars.
Regular ODI skipper Pat Cummins, along with key pacemans Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, will completely miss this tour. Meanwhile, dynamic white-ball players like Travis Head, Cooper Connolly, Xavier Bartlett, and Ben Dwarshuis are skipping this leg due to their ongoing IPL commitments. Furthermore, veterans Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis have been omitted as the selectors prioritize giving opportunities to a new generation of players. The duo more often than not endure poor form, and they deserve to be sidelined.
In the absence of Cummins, hard-hitting all-rounder and Aussie T20I all-rounder Mitchell Marsh will captain the side. He will have a solid core of experienced players around him, including Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, and spin wizard Adam Zampa.
The absolute headline of the Australian squad is the inclusion of 19-year-old under-19 sensation Oliver Peake. Hailed as one of the country’s brightest young batting prodigies, Peake’s call-up has created immense excitement. Alongside him, 25-year-old all-rounder Liam Scott has earned a spot, while fast-bowling speedsters Riley Meredith and Billy Stanlake make highly anticipated returns to the national setup to provide some serious heat on subcontinent tracks. Stanlake will be donning Australian colors after a gap of 7 years. He last featured in the Australian ODI setup in 2019 against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Australia ODI Squad:– Mitchell Marsh (C), Alex Carey (WK), Josh Inglis (WK), Cameron Green, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Oliver Peake, Liam Scott, Billy Stanlake, Riley Meredith, Tanveer Sangha, Matt Short.
This series carries immense psychological weight. The last time Australia played an ODI series on Pakistani soil back in 2022, the hosts secured a memorable 2-1 series victory. More recently, Pakistan completely swept the Aussies 3-0 in a home T20I series earlier this year. Check out the full schedule below.