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Why Haris Rauf dropped from Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 squad?: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced its 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026. The most surprising decision in this announcement is the exclusion of fast bowler Haris Rauf from the team. Rauf, who has been Pakistan's main weapon in white-ball cricket for the past 2-3 years, will not be seen in this World Cup.
Why was Haris Rauf not selected for the T20 World Cup 2026?
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Haris Rauf has a fantastic record for Pakistan. Since his debut in 2020, he has taken 133 wickets in 94 T20 matches and 97 wickets in 54 ODIs. He is also the highest wicket-taker for Pakistan in the T20 format.
Despite these impressive statistics, the main reason for his exclusion has been clarified by the team selector, Aaqib Javed
- Sri Lankan Conditions: According to Aaqib Javed, all of Pakistan's matches are to be played in Sri Lanka. The pitches there are very helpful for spin bowlers.
- Reliance on Spinners: The team management decided to increase the number of spinners in the team instead of fast bowlers, to take advantage of the conditions there. This is why, despite Rauf's performance in the recent Big Bash League (BBL), he was not included in the World Cup squad.
Babar Azam's Return and New Captaincy
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The biggest talking point of this squad is the return of Babar Azam. However, the team will be led by Salman Ali Agha, who will continue as the captain of the T20 team. Pakistan's previous T20 World Cup (2024) was extremely disappointing, where they were eliminated in the group stage after losing to teams like India and the USA.
Team's Batting and All-rounder Department
The batting responsibilities will rest on the shoulders of Babar Azam, along with Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, and Usman Khan. The list of all-rounders includes Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, and Faheem Ashraf, while Usman Tariq and Abrar Ahmed have been included as specialist spinners.
Pakistan's schedule for the T20 World Cup 2026
Pakistan has been placed in Group A along with India, the USA, the Netherlands, and Namibia.
| Date | Opponent Team | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| February 7 | Netherlands | Colombo |
| February 10 | USA | Sri Lanka |
| February 15 | India | Sri Lanka |
| February 18 | Namibia | Sri Lanka |
Also Read: Pakistan announced squad for T20 World Cup 2026
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