The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is officially forwarding its Pakistan 2026 T20 World Cup squad (preliminary list) to the International Cricket Council (ICC). The original team has a few experienced players and some of the unexpected names are absent currently.
That is not the final list and still can be modified by the deadline of the ICC.
Big Names Included in Pakistan 2026 T20 World Cup Squad
According to available details, the provisional Pakistan 2026 T20 World Cup squad includes key players such as:
- Babar Azam
- Shaheen Shah Afridi
- Haris Rauf
Other players named in the squad are:
- Sahibzada Farhan
- Saim Ayub
- Fakhar Zaman
- Salman Ali Agha
- Shadab Khan
- Faheem Ashraf
- Mohammad Nawaz
- Salman Mirza
- Abrar Ahmad
- Usman Tariq
These selections reflect a mix of experience and emerging talent.
Final Squad Announcement Timeline
The PCB will declare the final squad of Pakistan 2026 T20 World Cup at the end of the Pakistan-Sri Lanka series towards the end of the month.
The involvement teams can make unlimited changes to their teams until January 31, 2026. Thereafter, a modification will only be allowed after this date, in the event of an injury, or unusual conditions, with the consent of the ICC.
Injury Issue of Shaheen Afridi
Whether Shaheen Shah Afridi will feature in the final T20 world cup 2026 Pakistan squad remains a mystery but it is felt that he will only be joining the team after the recovery. Mohammad Waseem Jr has been to be found as a direct replacement in case it turns out that he will not be able to regain fitness on time.
Mohammad Rizwan Left Out for Now.
This comes out as one of the biggest surprises that Mohammad Rizwan is not in the preliminary team. In this instance of the wicketkeeper, the team management is still looking into Khawaja Nafay and Usman Khan, and the two are closely monitored in respect of form and fitness.
Gamers To Monitor Before The Final Hunt
Another player, who should be considered, is Abdul Samad. Good performances in the following Sri Lanka series may secure him a place in the last 2026 T20 World Cup squad of Pakistan.
In the meantime, Sufyan Muqeem (left-arm wrist spinner) and young batter Hassan Nawaz are discussed as the alternative in case of injury or the loss of his form.
The proposed Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 provisional team provides a preview of what the selectors are thinking but there are still a number of changes that can be made. Injuries, form and future series being a significant factor, the final team might have a significantly different appearance when announced at the end of the month.
