Australia Names Youth-Heavy Squads for Pakistan and Bangladesh White-Ball Tours

Cricket Australia announced senior white-ball squads for a three-match ODI series in Pakistan (May 30 – June 4) and a combined three-ODI/three-T20I series in Bangladesh (June 9 – 21). The selections feature teenage former U-19 captain Ollie (Oliver) Peake and all-rounder Liam Scott receiving maiden call-ups, while the “Big Three” pacers Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc are rested for both tours. Mitchell Marsh will captain the ODI side in Cummins’ absence, and Cameron Green, Josh Inglis and Matt Short will join the squad after the IPL concludes.

Australia ODI and T20I squads for Pakistan and Bangladesh series announced; Smith, Maxwell, Stoinis snubbed, Big 3 absentOllie Peake earns maiden call-up as Australia name squads for Pakistan and Bangladesh toursThe Sydney Morning HeraldESPNTeenage batter Oliver Peake named in Australia squad for Pakistan ODIsAustralia Drop Glenn Maxwell, Hand Debuts to Teen Sensation Oliver Peake and Liam Scott‘Hostile and nasty’: Fiery net that ended forgotten man’s Aussie exile as proidgy earns huge nod

The tours occur amid a demanding 15-month Test schedule beginning in August and ahead of the upcoming ODI World Cup slated for South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe. Australia also seeks to secure a spot for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic cricket tournament, making the Bangladesh T20Is strategically important. Selectors have chosen to rest the senior fast-bowling core, citing workload management and overlapping IPL commitments.

‘Hostile and nasty’: Fiery net that ended forgotten man’s Aussie exile as proidgy earns huge nod

• Ollie Peake (Victoria) – U-19 World Cup captain, 19 years old, will debut in Pakistan.

‘Hostile and nasty’: Fiery net that ended forgotten man’s Aussie exile as proidgy earns huge nod

• Liam Scott (South Australia) – Domestic One-Day player of the year, Sheffield Shield player of the year.

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• Joel Davies (Sydney Sixers) – Left-arm spinner, named for the Bangladesh T20Is.

Australia ODI and T20I squads for Pakistan and Bangladesh series announced; Smith, Maxwell, Stoinis snubbed, Big 3 absent

• Billy Stanlake (Tasmania) – Returns after his last Australia appearance in 2019.

‘Hostile and nasty’: Fiery net that ended forgotten man’s Aussie exile as proidgy earns huge nod

• Riley Meredith (Tasmania) – Re-joins the ODI set-up after a 2024 ODI hiatus.

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• Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Matt Short – IPL-based players who will travel to Bangladesh after the Pakistan leg.

The Sydney Morning Herald

Peake, who turns 20 in September, becomes one of only six Australian teenagers to play an ODI, joining Ray Bright, Craig McDermott, Hazlewood, Mitch Marsh and Cummins. He has featured in six List A matches, scoring two half-centuries at a 36.75 average and a strike rate of 112.21, while his first-class record shows 23 innings at 26.00 with four fifties. Liam Scott earned the 2024-25 One-Day domestic player award, finished second in the 2025-26 BBL player of the year, and was named Sheffield Shield player of the year.

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Selectors emphasized a “blend of experienced players coupled with new or returning players” to provide balance on sub-continent pitches. The decision to rest Cummins, Hazlewood and Starc was framed as a workload-management measure aligned with the forthcoming Test program and IPL schedule. The inclusion of uncapped talent aims to broaden the player pool for the World Cup defence and Olympic qualification campaign.

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Sources differ on the exact start date of the Pakistan ODIs (May 30 vs. May 31) and on venue details (Rawalpindi and Lahore versus Rawalpindi and Gaddafi Stadium). Player naming inconsistencies appear, with “Oliver Peake” and “Ollie Peake” used interchangeably, and “Cooper Connolly” spelled as “Cooper Conolly” in one report. Additionally, the status of certain fringe players (e.g., Aaron Hardie, Spencer Johnson) varies between squad lists for the Bangladesh ODIs and T20Is.

Australia ODI and T20I squads for Pakistan and Bangladesh series announced; Smith, Maxwell, Stoinis snubbed, Big 3 absent

> “Australia’s chairman of selectors George Bailey said “It’s always exciting to see new players get an opportunity to play international cricket and be a part of the national team.” — George Bailey, Chair of selectors, Cricket Australia

‘Hostile and nasty’: Fiery net that ended forgotten man’s Aussie exile as proidgy earns huge nod

> “The blend of experienced players coupled with new or returning players will provide a nice mix for these subcontinent tours.” — George Bailey, Chair of selectors, Cricket Australia

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> “Continuing to provide opportunities for players to develop across a broad range of conditions and experiences is important and will continue to be a focus over the next 18 months to two years across the calendar and with future campaigns in mind.” — George Bailey, Chair of selectors, Cricket Australia

‘Hostile and nasty’: Fiery net that ended forgotten man’s Aussie exile as proidgy earns huge nod

> “For a young man of his age, and what he’s been able to do so far in his career, he’s spent a little bit of time around the national team in Sri Lanka (and) he’s performed well domestically.” — George Bailey, Chair of selectors, Cricket Australia

‘Hostile and nasty’: Fiery net that ended forgotten man’s Aussie exile as proidgy earns huge nod

> “Bill was one of the unsung heroes of our BBL campaign last summer and was bowling with real pace before he unfortunately injured his shoulder” — Jeff Vaughan, Hobart Hurricanes coach

‘Hostile and nasty’: Fiery net that ended forgotten man’s Aussie exile as proidgy earns huge nod

Australia will open the Pakistan ODI series in Rawalpindi on May 30, followed by matches in Lahore. After the IPL concludes, the squad will reconvene in Bangladesh for ODIs in Dhaka and T20Is in Chattogram, with the outcomes influencing selection ahead of the World Cup and the 2028 Olympic qualification process.

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