Pakistan Cricket T20 World Cup
T20 World Cup 2026 Squad Pakistan Announce T20 World Cup 2026 Squad as Babar Azam Returns and Big Names Miss out.
Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 Squad.
Pakistan squad:
Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq.
The Pakistani have finally announced their 15-member team to participate in the ICC Men world cup T20 2026, and expectedly, this has already attracted much controversy among both the fans and the experts. The headline of the announcement that is the most striking is the comeback of the former captain Babar Azam, and the influential players such as Haris Ruf and Mohammad Rizwan have not been included in the final squad.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) finalized the team on Sunday to the 10th edition of T20 World Cup that will start on February 7 and will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. However, even though there were matches that were split between the two countries, Pakistan will play all their group-stage matches in Sri Lanka.
Salman Ali Agha has also been appointed captain over the tournament in a major leadership decision. A combination of experience and youth will dominate a side that is headed by the middle-order batter who has become a reliable all-format cricketer in the last year.
The Comeback of Babar Azam Empowers Batting Line-up.
The inclusion of Babar Azam is definitely the greatest support of Pakistan before the global event. The right-handed batter, the all-time most run scorer in men T20 internationals, had been unable to play last 3 match T20I series against Sri Lanka earlier this month because of his Australian Big Bash League commitments with the Sydney Sixers.
The 30-year-old was the last to play T20Is in Pakistan in the course of a tri-nation series with Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in November. The batting of Pakistan is made stable, with class and consistency with his presence in the team, particularly at the top of the batting. Babar is also selected in the Pakistani T20 series against Australia, which will be the important preparation before the World Cup.
Having Babar back in the team, the batting unit of Pakistan is much better settled. He will be supported by violent stroke-makers Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub, and Faheem Ashraf will bring extra power and flexibility at the middle-order. There is also the depth and attacking options provided by young batters such as Usman Khan and Sahibzada Farhan.
Haris Rauf, Rizwan Left Out.
Among the more notable things about the choice, though, is the fact that a key member of the T20 set up of Pakistan over the past number of years, wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, was left out. His non-selection is an indication of change in strategy as the selectors chose a more aggressive blend and flexibility.
In the same vein, longtime death-overs specialist Haris Rauf, has never been able to crane the axe. Although his speed and experience cannot be doubted, the factors that seem to have motivated the decision include form and fitness issues in the recent times.
The wicketkeeping responsibility will be done by Khawaja Mohammad Nafay and Sahibzada Farhan in the absence of Rizwan, who have managed to demonstrate themselves in both domestic and franchise cricket.
Bowling Attack directed by Shaheen and Naseem.
The bowling department of Pakistan will again be based on Shaheen Shah Afridi who is the leading strike bowler in white-ball cricket in the side. Shaheen will play a key role, although he will not be called the captain, particularly when it comes to the new ball, and under pressure.
He will also be assisted by Naseem Shah whose raw speed and the capacity to create bounces ensure that he is always a threat. The two will jointly be tasked with the challenge of spearheading the fast-bowling attack without Haris Rauf.
The leg-spinner, Abrar Ahmed, are also added to the squad, with Usman Tariq and Mohammad Salmon Mirza so, and that provides the team with some spin and pace depending on the situation in Sri Lanka.
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High Flexibility in All-Round Depth.
The figure of all-rounders is one of the best aspects in the squad of Pakistan. Such players as Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, and Faheem Ashraf provide balance to the side, making contribution through bat and ball.
Particularly, Shadab will take a central part in his leg-spin in middle overs and also giving a quick running down the order. The spin of his left arm by Nawaz is an added attribute particularly when he faces right-handed-heavy line-ups, and Faheem with his seam bowling and power-hitting capacity is worth to this team.
This richness allows captain Salman Ali Agha several options to test out, and it means that Pakistan can change his XI depending on the conditions in the opposition and the pitch.
Challenge and Tournament Schedule of Group A.
Pakistan are put in a group A which is one of the most competitive groups within the tournament. They will have to deal with co-hosts and defending champions India, as well as Netherlands, USA, and Namibia.
On the first day of T20 world now, pakistan will open their campaign against the Netherlands in colombo. Nevertheless, the much anticipated tussle will be the blockbuster event with India that will take place on February 15 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
The India-Pakistan rivalry is one of the largest drawcards in world cricket and the game is likely to attract huge global publicity.
Having been champions of the T20 world cup in 2009, Pakistan will be willing to regain global glory. Having a revamped team, a new management and with Babar Azam coming back, everything is expected as the team is ready to go out and face the world again.