Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 Squad: Babar Azam Returns; Haris Rauf, Mohammad Rizwan Dropped

The Pakistan cricket board has announced the squad for the T20 World Cup 2026. Salman Ali Agha was named the captain of the side, while veteran Babar Azam was also picked in the squad.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the squad for the T20 World Cup 2026. Salman Ali Agha was retained as captain for the marquee event, while Babar Azam was also picked in the squad despite poor form. Haris Rauf, on the other hand, was dropped from the team after a poor show in the Asia Cup 2025. Mohammad Rizwan also failed to make a return to the squad after an ordinary run in the Big Bash League (BBL).

Pakistan T20 World Cup Squad A Mix Of Youth And Experience

Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Babar, and Salman will be the main batsmen for Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2026, while the bowling will rest on the shoulders of Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Salman Mirza, and Usman Tariq. Spinner Abrar Ahmed will hold the key in the sluggish Sri Lankan conditions along with Shadab Khan. Mohammad Nawaz and Faheem Ashraf were other all-rounders picked in the squad. Usman Khan was retained as the backup wicketkeeper-batsman.

Pakistan Squad T20 World Cup 2026.

The squad is very similar to what Pakistan picked for the T20I series against Australia from January 29, with Wasim Jr. the only name to miss out. Pakistan are placed in Group A, along with India, USA, Netherlands, and Namibia. The Men in Green will open the T20 World Cup campaign against the Netherlands on February 7 in Colombo.

Has Pakistan Confirmed T20 World Cup Participation?

PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday, January 25, stirred a controversy after he sided with Bangladesh after they pulled out of the T20 World Cup due to security issues. He said that the ICC was unfair to Bangladesh after they refused Bangladesh’s request to shift their T20 World Cup matches to Sri Lanka. Naqvi refused to confirm Pakistan’s participation in the marquee event, saying that the final call will be taken by the Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif.

Our stance [on World Cup participation] will be what the government of Pakistan instructs me. The Prime Minister is not in Pakistan right now. When he returns, I’ll be able to give you our final decision. It’s the government’s decision. We obey them, not the ICC.

– Mohsin Naqvi

However, by announcing the squad, the PCB has more or less confirmed their participation in the T20 World Cup 2026. A PCB source had earlier stated that PCB has no grounds to boycott the T20 World Cup, as their matches will be played in Sri Lanka. But after the recent statement of Naqvi, speculations were rife that the PCB may boycott the T20 World Cup.

Pakistan T20 World Cup Squad: 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) and Usman Tariq.

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