Australia has confirmed a mix of fresh faces and experience for their white-ball squad for the tour of Pakistan.
The Aussies are scheduled to play three ODIs and one T20 against Pakistan after the Test tour concludes, with the first short-form game taking place at the end of March.
While a full-strength Test squad was confirmed earlier this month, the same cannot be said for the white-ball format, with a host of big names not selected.
David Warner, Glenn Maxwell and Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood have been left out, and it's understood they will not be released to play in the early stages of the IPL.
The schedule for the expansive tournament is yet to be confirmed but is speculated to begin on the weekend of March 26-27, the day after Australia’s Test tour of Pakistan concludes.
Contracted Australian players have their leave beginning on April 6, and cricket.com.au is reporting all contracted players have been granted permission to play in the IPL from that date.
Instead of the national Test trio, Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Ellis, Sean Abbott and Kane Richardson will form a new look pace line-up for the ODIs and T20.
Test all-rounder Cameron Green has also been selected and could play just his second ODI game, while T20 incumbent Josh Inglis will likely be given the chance to further his international career after impressive showings against Sri Lanka.
Ben McDermott looks set to continue at the top of the order with Warner out of the squad.
Meanwhile, Maxwell has been granted leave from the tour due to the timing clashing with his upcoming wedding, and it’s understood wicketkeeper Matthew Wade will play in the IPL instead of travelling to Pakistan for the singular T20.
Chairman of selectors George Bailey said the selected squad was picked to win the series while also keeping an eye to the future.
“We have picked a talented and versatile squad with a number of challenges to juggle, including the tour structure of predominantly 50 over games, management of several multi-format players in the medium to long term; and our need to build experience and depth in preparation for two short-form World Cups within the next 18 months,” Bailey said in a statement.
“We're confident the squad can both compete successfully on this tour and continue our progress towards those crucial tournaments.”
The games against Pakistan will represent just Australia’s fourth ODI series since the beginning of the pandemic.
Australia's ODI and T20I squad: Aaron Finch (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Ben McDermott, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.