Major Shakeup as Selectors Bet on Fresh Talent
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, revealing a significant shift in strategy by omitting key veterans. Pace spearhead Haris Rauf and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, mainstays of the team for years, have been left out of the squad set to compete in Sri Lanka next month.
New Faces and Strategic Shifts
The squad features five players who will make their maiden appearance in a T20 World Cup: captain Salman Ali Agha, all-rounder Faheem Ashraf, batter Khawaja Nafay, and bowlers Salman Mirza and Usman Tariq. Their inclusion signals a clear intent to refresh the side.
At a press conference in Lahore, PCB Director of High Performance Aqib Javed explained the rationale behind Rauf’s exclusion, citing team combination and conditions. “We are playing our matches in Sri Lanka, and we finalised the squad based on the conditions there,” Javed stated. He emphasized that while Rauf had served Pakistan for a long time, recent selections favored a different combination.
Explaining the Exclusions
The omission of Mohammad Rizwan, who played in the 2021, 2022, and 2024 tournaments, was addressed by white-ball head coach Michael Hesson. He indicated the team’s need for a wicketkeeper who can bat in the middle or lower order. “Rizwan is a top-order batter, and there is no spot in that role for a wicket-keeper,” Hesson said.
In contrast, Hesson praised the form of Usman Khan, who is set for his second World Cup appearance. “His performance has been exceptional since his comeback… His wicketkeeping has probably [been] bigger than expected,” the coach added.
Tournament Logistics and Pakistan’s Campaign
Due to the ongoing ‘Fusion Formula’ governing ICC events, Pakistan will play all its group-stage matches in Sri Lanka, avoiding travel to India. The 2009 champions are in Group A alongside India, the USA, the Netherlands, and Namibia.
Pakistan’s campaign begins against the Netherlands on February 7 in Colombo. Their marquee clash against arch-rivals India is scheduled for February 15. If Pakistan advances, the knockout stages will be hosted in Colombo, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad.
Full Squad for T20 World Cup 2026
- Salman Ali Agha (captain)
- Abrar Ahmed
- Babar Azam
- Faheem Ashraf
- Fakhar Zaman
- Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (wk)
- Mohammad Nawaz
- Mohammad Salman Mirza
- Naseem Shah
- Sahibzada Farhan (wk)
- Saim Ayub
- Shaheen Shah Afridi
- Shadab Khan
- Usman Khan (wk)
- Usman Tariq
