T20 World Cup: Pakistan names 15-man squad amid Naqvi’s objections to Bangladesh’s ouster

Pakistan have announced their 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to be played in India and Sri Lanka from February 7.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) named the squad on January 25, 2026, with Salman Ali Agha appointed as captain for the tournament.

The squad features the return of senior players including Babar Azam, while Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah are set to lead the pace attack.


Pakistan left out express pacer Haris Rauf from the 15-man squad named Sunday for next month's Twenty20 World Cup jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

The 32-year-old finished with 20 wickets in the Big Bash League in Australia but selector Aaqib Javed said Rauf doesn't fit in the combination.

"Rauf has played a lot of cricket for Pakistan but we kept conditions in Sri Lanka in mind while selecting the squad," Javed told a news conference.

Rauf is also the highest wicket-taker for Pakistan in T20I cricket with 133 in 94 matches.

Salman Agha will lead the squad.

Another pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi was declared fit and included in the squad with Naseem Shah and relatively inexperienced Salman Mirza the other fast bowlers in the squad.

The 15-member squad announced by Pakistan is: 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 and Usman Tariq.

Pakistan have been placed in Group A alongside co-hosts India, Netherlands, USA and Namibia in the tournament’s initial stage.

Their campaign will begin on February 7 in Colombo against the Netherlands.

With inputs from AFP