Australia’s road to the 2027 ODI World Cup may start without some of their stars, with their upcoming tour of Pakistan scheduled to begin during the Indian Premier League finals.

The Aussies will face Pakistan in three 50-over clashes on May 30, June 2, and June 4 in Rawalpindi and Lahore, with the fixtures confirmed on Thursday.

But with the IPL final to be played on May 31, a number of the country’s stars could miss at least the first two games of the series.

There are 16 Australians plying their trade in India’s lucrative T20 competition, including Test skipper Pat Cummins as well as T20 leader and West Australian Mitch Marsh.

The pair are likely important parts of Australia’s planning for next year’s World Cup as they look to defend their crown in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.

Travis Head is currently opening the batting with Sunrisers Hyderabad, who, as of Thursday morning, topped the table after defeating Ricky Ponting’s Punjab Kings despite a first professional century from fellow Australian Cooper Connolly.

Xavier Bartlett and Ben Dwarshuis are also at the Kings, who look likely to play finals, while Matthew Short’s Chennai Super Kings could also feature in the knockout action.

It is understood that Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc will be rested from the series, and the follow-up in Bangladesh, regardless, as they all work back from injuries after the summer’s successful Ashes series.

May 30 will mark the beginning of Australia’s road to the World Cup, with One-Day International cricket taking a back seat for much of the cricketing calendar.

After Pakistan, the Aussies will face Bangladesh in three ODIs and three T20s.

2027 is set to be one of the biggest years in the nation’s cricketing history with a tour to India in January-February, the 150th Anniversary Test against England at the MCG in early March, an away Ashes series and then the World Cup.

It is also likely to be a last hurrah for much of the current generation, such as Steve Smith.