Pakistan Cricket Board unveils T20 World Cup squad with blend of experienced stars and promising newcomers ahead of India-Sri Lanka co-hosted tournament
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officially announced its 15-member squad for the highly anticipated ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 during a press conference at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Sunday. The tournament, scheduled from February 7 to March 8, will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
Squad Announcement Details
The selection committee, led by PCB Director of High Performance Aqib Javed, unveiled the squad alongside Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha and head coach Michael James Hesson.
Key Squad Features
Captain: Salman Ali Agha will lead Pakistan’s campaign at the prestigious tournament.
Newcomers Making Their Mark: The squad includes several exciting first-time major tournament call-ups:
- Faheem Ashraf
- Khawaja Mohammad Nafay
- Mohammad Salman Mirza
- Sahibzada Farhan
- Usman Tariq
Established Stars: Pakistan’s experienced core features prominent names including Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, and Naseem Shah.
Notable Exclusion
In a surprising move, pacer Haris Rauf, who has been a regular fixture in Pakistan’s recent squads, was left out of the final 15-member lineup for the tournament.
Tournament Format and Pakistan’s Group
Pakistan has been drawn in Group A alongside formidable opponents:
- India (co-hosts)
- Netherlands
- United States of America (USA)
- Namibia
Pakistan’s Match Schedule
The Green Shirts will begin their World Cup journey with the following fixtures:
- February 7: Pakistan vs Netherlands (Colombo)
- February 10: Pakistan vs USA
- February 15: Pakistan vs India (highly anticipated clash)
- February 18: Pakistan vs Namibia
Tournament Structure
The 20-team ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will feature a comprehensive format including group stage matches, followed by Super Eight rounds and knockout stages, providing ample opportunity for teams to showcase their skills on cricket’s biggest stage.
