Pakistan's Cup Boycott and Australia's Shaky Preparation

Corbin and Ed unpack a major World Cup flashpoint after the Pakistan government announced it will not allow the national team to play India, prompting ICC warnings and raising serious questions about power, politics and the future structure of international cricket. The pair examine what the standoff could mean for global revenues, Test nations, and the balance of influence in the game as the tournament approaches. Corbin and Ed ask is Australia’s World Cup preparation on track following a heavy T20 series loss to Pakistan, injuries mounting, form dipping and selection calls under scrutiny, is this a genuine warning sign or simply a poorly timed stumble before the main event. The guys dive into domestic cricket, analysing Greg Shippard’s departure from New South Wales, the pressure on performance leaders, and the ongoing tension between winning titles and producing Australian players, before wrapping with concerns around domestic scheduling and the return of the Sheffield Shield. ABC Grandstand cricket commentator Corbin Middlemas is joined by Ed Cowan to bring you all the highlights and match analysis to keep you up to speed. The pair discuss the key players and big issues that are dominating the cricket agenda, the latest in live fixtures with a hit of cricket banter. Catch every episode of ‘The ABC Cricket Podcast,’ hosted by Corbin Middlemas on ABC listen or wherever you get your podcasts, and get in touch with them on social media via @abc_sport This podcast was formerly known as ‘The Grandstand Cricket Podcast’