Mitchell Marsh injury forces Josh Inglis into captaincy role for depleted Australia in Pakistan

Cricket Australia confirmed on Tuesday that Marsh would miss the three-match series, which begins in Rawalpindi on Saturday, after returning to Perth for further assessment and treatment following the conclusion of his Indian Premier League campaign with Lucknow Super Giants.

The 34-year-old had sat out Lucknow's final IPL match against Punjab Kings and did not travel with the Australian squad to Pakistan. Cricket Australia also said his availability for the upcoming white-ball tour of Bangladesh remains uncertain.

"Marsh will remain in Perth for further assessment and treatment until further notice," Cricket Australia said in a statement.

His absence leaves Australia without several senior figures for the Pakistan tour. Regular ODI captain Pat Cummins, Travis Head and Josh Hazlewood are all unavailable because of IPL playoff commitments, while Steve Smith has since retired from one-day internationals.

That has elevated Inglis into the captaincy role for the series, making him Australia's fourth-choice ODI skipper. The wicketkeeper previously captained the side during a one-day international against Pakistan in Perth in November 2024, while Alex Carey is another leadership option after leading Australia during an ODI series in the Caribbean in 2021.

Australia have yet to announce a replacement for Marsh, although young all-rounder Cooper Connolly is among the leading candidates to join the squad after Punjab Kings failed to qualify for the IPL playoffs. Xavier Bartlett and Ben Dwarshuis, who were also initially unavailable because of IPL commitments, are likewise now free following Punjab's late collapse.

Marsh's withdrawal is a significant setback given his form in India. The all-rounder finished as Lucknow's leading run-scorer this season with 563 runs at an average above 43, including a century and scores of 90 and 96 in his final weeks of the tournament.

His absence also leaves Australia with a selection dilemma at the top of the order. Marsh and Head are regarded as the preferred opening combination ahead of next year's World Cup, but with both unavailable, selectors may have to reshuffle the batting lineup for the Pakistan series.

Matt Short is expected to fill one opening berth, while Carey could potentially be promoted up the order to create space in the middle order for teenage prospect Ollie Peake, who is in line for an international debut.

Australia coach Andrew McDonald has also indicated the tour could be used to experiment with Cameron Green in a middle-order role as the team continues planning for life after Glenn Maxwell in ODI cricket.

The Pakistan series will be followed by three ODIs in Bangladesh beginning on June 9, before the teams contest a three-match T20 series later in the month.

Australia enter the tour looking to reverse recent struggles against Pakistan, having lost their last bilateral ODI series 2-1 and suffered a 3-0 T20 whitewash earlier this year.

"We really want to make sure we win these little white-ball series here and there," batter Matt Short said this week.

"Pakistan have had it over us the last couple of series, so we're certainly in the hunt for a series win."