Melbourne, 11 May (H.S.): Cricket Australia has named its limited‑overs squads for the upcoming tours of Pakistan and Bangladesh, with captain Mitchell Marsh at the helm for both legs of the white‑ball series. The selections mark a clear shift towards fresh talent, with several uncapped players earning maiden call‑ups while seasoned quicks Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood have been rested across all squads.

Fast bowlers Billy Stanlake and Riley Meredith earn returns to the ODI outfit, having been left out of recent campaigns. At the same time, young performers Ollie Peake, Liam Scott and Joel Davies have been handed their first Australian contracts, with Peake picked only for the Pakistan ODI series, Scott included in both Pakistan and Bangladesh ODI squads, and Davies named in the Bangladesh T20 squad.

Selectors have also opted to continue the transition away from the “big three” pace trio, leaving Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood out of the touring groups to manage workloads and give newer fast‑bowling options more exposure.

Players currently competing in IPL 2026 – Travis Head, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis and Xavier Bartlett – will join the group after the Pakistan ODIs and feature in the subsequent Bangladesh leg. These four will replace Ollie Peake, Billy Stanlake, Riley Meredith and Matthew Short in the Bangladesh ODI and T20 units, reflecting the board’s attempt to balance franchise commitments with national‑team integration.

In a notable exclusion, Glenn Maxwell, who has already stepped back from ODI cricket, has also been left out of the T20 squads for both Pakistan and Bangladesh, despite his recent World Cup‑final heroics. The decision signals a longer‑term plan to reshuffle the white‑ball environment beyond the current core group.

Selection‑panel chair George Bailey said: “It is always exciting to see new players get their chance in international cricket. The mix of experienced and young talent will give the team balance during these challenging subcontinental tours.”

Australia Squads – 2026 Tours

ODI Squad for Pakistan (May–June 2026)

Mitchell Marsh (captain), Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Riley Meredith, Ollie Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Tanveer Sangha, Liam Scott, Matthew Short, Billy Stanlake, Adam Zampa.

ODI Squad for Bangladesh

Mitchell Marsh (captain), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Matthew Renshaw, Tanveer Sangha, Liam Scott, Adam Zampa.

T20 Squad for Bangladesh

Mitchell Marsh (captain), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Joel Davies, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Matthew Kuhnemann, Riley Meredith, Josh Philippe, Matthew Renshaw, Adam Zampa.

These squads set the stage for a rebuilding phase in Australia’s limited‑overs setup, placing faith in emerging quicks and all‑rounders while managing the workload of established stars ahead of future ICC events.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar