Mitchell Marsh has been ruled out of Australia’s upcoming three-match ODI tour of Pakistan, with an ankle problem forcing him to miss the tour that starts on May 30. Josh Inglis, the wicket-keeper, will captain the side in Marsh’s absence as Australia manage a significant reshuffle ahead of the white-ball run in the subcontinent.
Key takeaways
- Mitchell Marsh is set to miss Australia’s three-match ODI series in Pakistan, beginning May 30, due to an ankle injury.
- Josh Inglis will lead Australia while Marsh is unavailable for the Pakistan tour.
- Marsh sustained the injury during his IPL campaign with Lucknow Super Giants, where he scored 563 runs and finished as the team’s leading run-scorer.
- Australia have not named a replacement in the squad for the Pakistan tour, and Marsh will remain in Perth for further medical assessment.
- Australia’s ODI opener is scheduled for Rawalpindi, with the other two matches in Lahore.
Injury update and captaincy change
Mitchell Marsh has been ruled out of the ODI leg of Australia’s Pakistan tour after picking up an ankle injury. The tour begins on May 30 and consists of three ODIs, with Marsh unavailable for all matches. In his place, wicket-keeper Josh Inglis has been handed the captaincy responsibility.
The ankle issue traces back to Marsh’s IPL spell with Lucknow Super Giants. In that season, he ended as LSG’s top run-getter, accumulating 563 runs. He also missed Lucknow’s final league fixture against Punjab Kings on Saturday, May 23. Following that setback, Marsh has stayed in Perth for further assessment and treatment, as outlined in a statement from Cricket Australia.
No stand-in has been added to the touring party for the Pakistan series. However, Marsh is still aiming to be fit in time for Australia’s next assignment in the white-ball calendar—an upcoming Bangladesh tour in June that features three ODIs and three T20Is. A Cricket Australia spokesperson indicated that Marsh’s participation will depend on how his recovery progresses.
“Marsh will remain in Perth for further assessment and treatment until further notice. His availability for the white ball tour of Bangladesh will be determined in due course,” the spokesperson said.
Absentees, Bangladesh plans, and series schedule
Marsh’s absence is part of a wider list of notable players who will not be involved in the Pakistan tour. Regular ODI captain Pat Cummins and opener Travis Head are not part of the travelling group, and Josh Hazlewood is also missing from the Pakistan squad. The same trio—Cummins, Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc—have also been rested from the Bangladesh tour, while Head is expected to join the squad for the Bangladesh series.
Hazlewood, Cummins, and Starc are all set to feature for their respective teams in the IPL 2026 playoffs, which are scheduled to start on Tuesday, May 26. Starc is also not touring Pakistan, aligning with the broader rotation approach around the franchise playoff period.
Inglis has already captained Australia in international cricket during this period, leading the team in one ODI and three T20Is. All of those matches were played against Pakistan at home in 2024, giving the wicket-keeper a familiar captaincy backdrop against the same opposition.
The ODI series in Pakistan begins in Rawalpindi, where the first match will be staged. The remaining two games will take place in Lahore, completing the three-match contest.
