In a bid to get enough matches under his belt before the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup, Mitchell Starc is hoping to regain match-fitness before Australia’s next month’s ODI series against Pakistan after a left pectoral injury has hampered his preparations for the prestigious event in England.

Starc was left out of the limited-overs tour of India after picking up the injury during the second Test against Sri Lanka in Canberra, though, the paceman said he is "a couple of weeks" away from resuming bowling and hoping to return to the national squad for the UAE tour.

On Tuesday, Starc told cricket.com.au, “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. 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 is scheduled to travel to India to play two T20Is (on February 24 and 27) and five ODIs (March 2-13) before the five-match ODI series in the UAE against Pakistan from March 22 to 31.

With Starc missing the India series, the paceman will have the opportunity to play 5 ODIs against Pakistan along with three practice matches against a New Zealand side in Brisbane in May and the two official warm-up matches for the World Cup 2019 to polish his skills before Australia begin their title defense against Afghanistan on June 1.

(With cricket.com.au Inputs)