Pakistan have taken their first big step towards the 2026 T20 World Cup with the submission of a 20-member preliminary squad. Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi are back in the frame, but one of the biggest names in Pakistan’s recent T20 story, Mohammad Rizwan, has been left out.
The squad was submitted before the ICC’s January 7 deadline, with head coach Mike Hesson now holding the authority to reduce the group to the final 15, along with travelling reserves, ahead of the tournament which begins on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka.
Hesson’s reset: Babar returns, Rizwan dropped
As per Telecom Asia Sport, Babar’s inclusion comes after his solid recent run in the Big Bash League (BBL). Babar has made 129 runs at 32.25 for Sydney Sixers so far in five innings. Meanwhile, Shaheen is expected to recover fully from a knee injury in the coming weeks. Both had been missing from Pakistan’s recent T20I squad for the Sri Lanka series due to their BBL commitments, not form, as had initially been speculated.
The real headline, though, is Rizwan’s omission. According to PCB sources, Hesson is leaning towards a more aggressive T20 structure and has identified Usman Khan as his preferred wicketkeeper-batter. The Babar-Rizwan opening duo was already dashed during the Asia Cup 2025, where Pakistan made Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub open the innings with Fakhar Zaman also an option.
| Mat | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 4/6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 58 | 32 | 14.5 | 58 | 100 | 8/0 |
The selection was made by a reduced three-member panel comprising Aqib Javed, Aameen Dar and Asad Ali, following Azhar Ali’s resignation, with all three operating on equal authority.
Pakistan squad for PAK vs SL T20Is
Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmad, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk), Usman Tariq
Spin-heavy blueprint for Sri Lanka conditions
Pakistan are preparing for slow, turning tracks with five specialist spinners in the preliminary group: Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq and Maaz Sadaqat. The heavy spin focus reflects the conditions expected in Sri Lanka, where Pakistan will play all their matches due to ongoing political tensions with India.
Notably missing are young spinner Sufiyan Muqeem and pacer Ahmed Danyal, while the fast-bowling unit will be shaped around Shaheen once he is fully fit. Pakistan can make unlimited changes to the squad until January 31, after which any alterations will require ICC approval. There’s no update on Haris Rauf, who has been in fine form in the BBL for Melbourne Stars, having taken 10 wickets at a bowling SR of 11.80 so far. He wasn’t part of the Sri Lanka T20Is either.
Pakistan schedule at T20 World Cup 2026
| Date | Match | Teams | Time (LOCAL) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Feb 7 2026 | 1st Match, Group A | Pakistan vs Netherlands | 11:00 AM |
| Tue, Feb 10 2026 | 12th Match, Group A | Pakistan vs United States | 7:00 PM |
| Sun, Feb 15 2026 | 27th Match, Group A | India vs Pakistan | 7:00 PM |
| Wed, Feb 18 2026 | 35th Match, Group A | Pakistan vs Namibia | 3:00 PM |
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