Pakistan T20 World Cup Squad Announcement

Pakistan has revealed its 15-player squad for the T20 World Cup, marking a confirmed participation after earlier speculations about a potential boycott. The announcement occurred during a press conference at Gaddafi Stadium, attended by High Performance Director Aqib Javed, captain Salman Ali Agha, and white-ball head coach Michael James Hesson. This decision reverses earlier remarks by board chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who had mentioned a possible withdrawal due to Bangladesh’s refusal to join the tournament, citing security issues.

Selection Strategy for the T20 World Cup

The selection committee has prioritised consistency by retaining the same players scheduled to compete against Australia in a T20 series at home, beginning on 29 January in Lahore. The only change is the omission of medium pacer Mohammad Wasim junior, as selectors aim for a blend of seasoned players and newcomers for the tournament.

Full Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 Squad

• Salman Ali Agha (Captain)
• Abrar Ahmed
• Babar Azam
• Faheem Ashraf
• Fakhar Zaman
• Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (Wicketkeeper)
• Mohammad Nawaz
• Mohammad Salman Mirza
• Naseem Shah
• Sahibzada Farhan (Wicketkeeper)
• Saim Ayub
• Shaheen Shah Afridi
• Shadab Khan
• Usman Khan (Wicketkeeper)
• Usman Tariq

The squad includes two specialist spinners, Abrar Ahmed and Usman Tariq, the latter recognised as a mystery spinner despite limited international experience. Spin all-rounders Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, and Saim Ayub contribute additional strength, while young batsman Khawaja Nafay, who has only one T20 International cap, has also been selected.

Six players—Agha, Faheem Ashraf, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Sahibzada Farhan, and Usman Tariq—are experiencing their first selection for a significant ICC event. Meanwhile, well-known players such as Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, and Usman Khan bring invaluable tournament experience.

Group Stage and Venue Details

Pakistan is placed in Group A and will commence its tournament journey against the Netherlands on 7 February in Colombo. All group matches for Pakistan will take place in Sri Lanka, in line with an agreement established last year among the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and the International Cricket Council (ICC).

This arrangement guarantees that all India-Pakistan matches until 2027 will occur at neutral venues, reflecting the prevailing security and logistical concerns. The PCB’s choice to participate comes after a phase of unpredictability following changes to the tournament structure and the relocation of group-stage matches.