Injured Mitchell Starc hopes to return for five-match ODI series against Pakistan in UAE

Australia’s left-arm pacer, Mitchell Starc is hopeful of a return to international cricket for the ODI series against Pakistan in March, after attaining full fitness. The left-arm quick’s preparation for the World Cup were hampered by an injury to his left pec muscle . Starc sustained the injury during the second Test against Sri Lanka in Canberra and said he was a ‘couple of weeks’ away from bowling. The 28-year-old will miss the upcoming limited overs series against India. [caption id=“attachment_5519011” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Australa pace spearhead Mitchell Starc. Reuters[/caption] “The UAE is around the 15th of March so if all goes to plan I should be pretty sweet to be available for that one,” Starc told cricket.com.au. “Obviously the boys go to India, hopefully it’s a good tour for them there. I don’t think I’ll be ready for any stage of that. So it’s up to the rehab group and the selectors and see how the rest of this summer goes.” Australia are scheduled to play two T20Is, followed by five ODIs against India, starting 24 February. While the five-match ODI series in the UAE against Pakistan starts from 22 March. Following the five-match series against Pakistan, Australia are expected to play three practice matches against a New Zealand side in Brisbane in May ahead of their two official World Cup warm-up matches, against England and Sri Lanka, giving the pacer 10 50-overs games before Australia’s opening fixture against Afghanistan in the World Cup. With the Ashes scheduled after the World Cup, Starc’s workload along with other fast bowlers, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, will also be under the microscope.