Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins out of IPL 2026; Australia stars rattled by Pakistan security concerns before PSL

Veteran Australia fast bowlers Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins will miss the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, which is set to begin on March 28. Meanwhile, several Australian players are evaluating their participation in the upcoming Pakistan Super League due to security concerns.

Cricket Australia (CA) is managing Cummins and Hazlewood after they missed the recent T20 World Cup 2026 and the Ashes series. Selector Tony Dodemaide confirmed that they did not prioritize franchise cricket. Both bowlers played just one Test match between them during the recent home summer.

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The right-arm fast bowler is likely to miss at least the first two matches for the defending champions. He has not played competitive cricket since a Sheffield Shield loss for New South Wales against Victoria at the Sydney Cricket Ground nearly five months ago.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) bought him for ₹12.5 crore in the IPL 2025 auction. He took 22 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 17.54 and an economy rate of 8.77. His performances helped the franchise win their maiden title by defeating the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the final.

Pat Cummins Unavailable for Sunrisers Hyderabad Opener

Pat Cummins is recovering from a back injury and will miss at least the opening match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 28. With his return date uncertain, Ishan Kishan is likely to lead Sunrisers Hyderabad in the early part of the tournament.

The fast bowler has played 72 IPL matches and taken 79 wickets. For Sunrisers Hyderabad over the last two seasons, he has picked up 34 wickets in 30 matches. Without Cummins and Hazlewood during the T20 World Cup, Australia suffered group-stage defeats against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.

Cricket Australia is managing both bowlers carefully ahead of a busy international schedule. The team is set to play 26 Test matches and an ODI World Cup in the next 18 months. Their international calendar will begin with a two-match Test series against Bangladesh in August.

Australian Players Monitor Pakistan Super League Security

Australian players and coaches are closely monitoring the security situation involving Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Pakistan Super League will begin two days before the Indian Premier League.

Players like Steve Smith, David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tim Paine, and Jason Gillespie are set to take part in the tournament. Officials have briefed them about regional flight disruptions and the ongoing border tensions.

A scheduled match between Peshawar and Rawalpindi on March 28 has raised concerns, as the Australian government currently classifies Peshawar as a no-travel zone. Aaron Hardie is the only Australian player not involved with those teams.

Some Australian players are expected to arrive in Pakistan this weekend. To address safety concerns, the Pakistan Cricket Board has reportedly discussed using a private jet to evacuate international players if the situation worsens.

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