The teams of 16 countries for the 2026 T20 World Cup have already been announced. Pakistan has also announced its World Cup squad, but star player Haris Rauf is not included. The World Cup matches will be played in India and Sri Lanka, and the tournament will run from February 7th to March 8th. Almost all the major teams have announced their squads, but several well-known players are missing. Here is a list of experienced and star players who will not be seen playing in the 2026 T20 World Cup.
1. Naveen-ul-Haq (Afghanistan)
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Afghanistan, a team that has improved significantly in terms of performance over the past few years, will have to play without Naveen-ul-Haq. The Afghan fast bowler is recovering from a stress fracture in his right shoulder and has undergone surgery. Consequently, the Afghan team has called up Zia-ur-Rahman Sharifi as his replacement.
2. Adam Milne (New Zealand)
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New Zealand also suffered a setback when Adam Milne was ruled out due to a hamstring injury. The Kiwi pacer sustained the injury while playing for Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the SA20 2025-26 season. However, NZC has replaced him with Kyle Jamieson, adding a new dimension to their bowling attack.
3. Donovan Ferreira (South Africa)
Donovan Ferreira, who was in excellent form in the SA20 tournament, has suffered an injury to his left collarbone and has been ruled out of South Africa's squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup. The injury occurred in the latter stages of the tournament and required medical evaluation, which ultimately led to his withdrawal from the global event.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) officially confirmed his absence and announced Tristan Stubbs as his replacement. Given his recent performances, Ferreira's absence will be a blow for the Proteas, but the management will be hoping that Stubbs can perform well on the big stage.
4. Tony de Zorzi (South Africa)
Tony de Zorzi was part of South Africa's squad for the T20 World Cup 2026, but he suffered a right hamstring injury during the tour of India last year. His recovery did not progress as expected, and consequently, Cricket South Africa (CSA) ruled him out of the tournament.
Ryan Rickelton has been named as his replacement in the squad for the T20 World Cup 2026. Rickelton is currently in excellent form in the ongoing SA20 league. His consistent performances at the top of the order and his ability to score quickly make him an ideal replacement for De Zorzi.
Also Read: Top 5 teams that refused to play in the World Cup
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