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Pakistan announced squad for T20 World Cup 2026: Just after receiving a warning from the ICC, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced its 15-member squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. Pakistan has made several surprising decisions for this major tournament, which will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka starting February 7th.
This time, Salman Ali Agha will lead the team, while veteran batsman Babar Azam has retained his place. Pakistan will begin its campaign against the Netherlands in Colombo on February 7th.
PCB Announces T20 World Cup Squad in Lahore Press Conference
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The squad was announced during a press conference at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on the morning of January 25th. PCB High Performance Director Aaqib Javed, captain Salman Ali Agha, and head coach Mike Hesson were present on the occasion. The selectors have tried to strike a balance between experience and new talent.
Pakistan squad for the T20 World Cup 2026
| Player Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Salman Ali Agha (Captain) | All-rounder |
| Babar Azam | Batter |
| Fakhar Zaman | Batter |
| Saim Ayub | Batter |
| Usman Khan | Batter |
| Khawaja Mohammad Nafay | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
| Sahibzada Farhan | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
| Faheem Ashraf | All-rounder |
| Mohammad Nawaz | All-rounder |
| Shadab Khan | All-rounder |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | Bowler |
| Naseem Shah | Bowler |
| Abrar Ahmed | Bowler (Spinner) |
| Mohammad Salman Mirza | Bowler |
| Usman Tariq | Bowler |
Also Read: BBL 15 Final Live Streaming, How to Watch SCO vs SIX Online
Haris Rauf Dropped from T20 World Cup
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The biggest news of this selection is the absence of Pakistan's death-over specialist fast bowler, Haris Rauf, from the team. He is always a fixture in the T20 team, but his absence in such a major tournament could be a problem for the team.
Why Haris Rauf dropped from the T20I squad?
Haris Rauf, a key part of Pakistan's pace unit, has not been included in the 15-member squad. The board and selectors have expressed confidence in the pair of Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah in his place. Rauf's exclusion is raising many questions, but it is believed that this tough decision was made considering his recent form and fitness.
New strategy in fast bowling
In the absence of Haris Rauf, Pakistan has given opportunities to new faces like Mohammad Salman Mirza to sharpen their bowling. Now it remains to be seen who will fill Rauf's role as a 'death overs' specialist in the team.
6 players will play in the T20I World Cup for the first time
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The special feature of this World Cup squad is that it includes six players who will be playing on this big stage for the first time. These include:
- Salman Ali Agha (captain)
- Faheem Ashraf
- Khwaja Mohammad Nafe
- Mohammad Salman Mirza
- Sahibzada Farhan
- Usman Tariq
India vs Pakistan match date: February 15
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Pakistan is placed in Group A. Their schedule is as follows
- February 7: vs. Netherlands (Colombo)
- February 10: vs. USA
- February 15: vs. India (Colombo) - Grand Final
- February 18: vs. Namibia
Also Read: IND vs NZ 3rd T20 Pitch Report, Barsapara Cricket Stadium stats, records
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