Key Points
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Salman Ali Agha will captain Pakistan in his first T20 World Cup appearance.
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Haris Rauf and Mohammad Rizwan have been left out after featuring in recent editions.
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Three players will make their World Cup debut as Pakistan prepares to play in Sri Lanka
The Pakistan Cricket Board announced its squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 during a press conference at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, led by Director of High Performance Aqib Javed, captain Salman Ali Agha and white ball head coach Michael Hesson.
Salman Ali Agha, Faheem Ashraf, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Mohammad Salman Mirza and Usman Tariq have received their first call ups for a major international tournament. The selection marks a new phase for Pakistan as it blends experience with emerging talent.
Several senior players remain part of the lineup, including Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan and Usman Khan, all of whom have appeared in previous editions of the T20 World Cup since 2021.
Notably absent are fast bowler Haris Rauf and wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan. Rizwan will miss his first T20 World Cup after playing in the 2021, 2022 and 2024 tournaments. Team management said the squad was selected based on conditions expected in Sri Lanka, where Pakistan will play all of its group matches under the tournament’s neutral venue arrangement.
Pakistan will open its World Cup campaign against the Netherlands on February 7 in Colombo. The team has been placed in Group A alongside India, the United States, the Netherlands and Namibia. Group stage matches will continue through February, followed by the Super Eight round and knockout phase.
Officials said the final combination reflects a balance between consistency and adaptability, with specific roles assigned for batting depth and bowling options suited to subcontinent conditions.
Squad:
Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq.
