Pakistan announce squad for T20 World Cup 2026; Haris Rauf DROPPED

Pakistan are placed in Group A in ICC T20 World Cup 2026, which will be played in India and Sri Lanka.

Pakistan Cricket Team have announced their squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. The Pakistani Cricket Board (PCB) have named a 15-member squad, which will be captained by Salman Ali Agha.

The return of Babar Azam stands out as the most significant boost, with the former captain bringing experience and stability at the top of the order after recently becoming the highest run scorer in men’s T20 internationals.

Pakistan’s pace attack regains its bite with Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah leading the bowling unit. The squad also features multiple all round options such as Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, and Mohammad Nawaz, giving the team flexibility in team combinations.

Despite the balanced look of the squad, a few omissions have sparked debate. Haris Rauf has been left out following a dip in form and reported fitness concerns, while wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan misses selection after a relatively quiet run in recent franchise cricket.

The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 will commence on February 7 and will be hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Pakistan are placed in Group A in T20 World Cup 2026 alongside India, Netherlands, USA, and Namibia.

They will play their opening game of the group stage against Netherlands on February 7 at Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground in Colombo.

It will be followed by clashes against the USA on February 10, India on February 15, and Namibia on February 18. Later, the top two teams from their group will qualify for the Super 8 round. The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will conclude with the final on March 8.

Pakistan squad for ICC T20 World Cup 2026

Salman Ali Agha (C), 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, Usman Tariq.

Pakistan endured a disastrous campaign at the 2024 T20 World Cup, crashing out in the group stage after a shock Super Over defeat to the USA and a narrow loss to arch rivals India, an exit that exposed poor batting, weak game awareness, and strategic lapses.

As they look ahead to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Pakistan will aim to correct those flaws with a renewed mindset, sharper execution, and improved consistency to restore credibility in white ball cricket.

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