Pakistan have unveiled a 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, mixing proven match-winners with a handful of fresh faces as they look to mount a serious challenge in the global showpiece.
The announcement was made during a press conference at Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday, addressed by PCB Director High Performance Aqib Javed, T20I captain Salman Ali Agha and white-ball head coach Michael James Hesson.
Placed in Group A, Pakistan will begin their World Cup campaign against the Netherlands on February 7 in Colombo, with the tournament running until March 8 across venues in Sri Lanka and India.
Fresh faces earn maiden World Cup call-ups
One of the standout features of the squad is the inclusion of several players who will be featuring in their first-ever ICC mega event.
Captain Salman Ali Agha, along with Faheem Ashraf, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Sahibzada Farhan and Usman Tariq, have all earned maiden T20 World Cup call-ups — a clear sign that the selectors are backing form and versatility heading into the tournament.
The decision to hand Salman Ali Agha the leadership role underlines the team management’s intent to move forward with a fresh approach in the shortest format.
Experience remains the backbone
Despite the influx of new names, Pakistan’s core remains firmly built around experience.
The squad includes seasoned campaigners Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz and Naseem Shah, all of whom have featured in previous editions of the T20 World Cup since 2021.
Young opener Saim Ayub and wicketkeeper-batter Usman Khan also retain their places, continuing Pakistan’s emphasis on aggressive batting options at the top and middle order.
Final preparations begin at home
As part of their build-up to the World Cup, Pakistan will host Australia in a three-match T20I series at Gaddafi Stadium on January 29, 31 and February 1. The series is expected to play a key role in finalising combinations and settling the playing XI before the team departs for Colombo.
The national side’s preparation camp officially got underway on Sunday, with focus firmly on sharpening skills ahead of the February 7 opener.
Pakistan squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk) and Usman Tariq.
With a blend of youth, experience and renewed leadership, Pakistan will be hoping this squad can strike the right balance when it matters most on the world stage.
