Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 Squad: Strength in Bowling, Questions in Batting

Pakistan has locked in their plans for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, announcing a 15-member squad that blends fresh faces with proven tournament experience. Placed in Group A, Pakistan will begin their campaign against the Netherlands on February 7 in Colombo, with all their matches scheduled to be played in Sri Lanka under the hybrid hosting model agreed between the International Cricket Council, the Board of Control for Cricket in India, and the Pakistan Cricket Board.

The squad was unveiled at a press conference in Lahore by high-performance director and selector Aqib Javed, alongside T20I captain Salman Ali Agha and white-ball head coach Mike Hesson. Six players: Salman Agha, Faheem Ashraf, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Sahibzada Farhan and Usman Tariq, are set to experience their first senior ICC men's event, while the rest of the group brings World Cup exposure dating back to 2021.

Bowling remains Pakistan's strongest suit. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah lead the pace attack, supported by Faheem Ashraf and Salman Mirza. Spin options abound in Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed, and Usman Tariq - a selection clearly shaped by Sri Lankan conditions.

Batting, however, remains the bigger question. Pakistan has leaned towards aggressive top-order intent with Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan likely to open, while Fakhar Zaman offers explosiveness. The middle order, led by Salman Agha, Shadab, and Nawaz, lacks a proven finisher, and death bowling responsibility is expected to fall heavily on Shaheen and Naseem: an area that has cost Pakistan in recent tournaments.

Is Babar Azam playing the T20 World Cup?

Yes, and his inclusion is one of the defining calls of the selection. Former captain Babar Azam has been recalled despite a lean run in recent T20 cricket and a modest Big Bash League stint, where he scored 202 runs at a strike rate of 103.06. The selectors have backed his experience, though coach Mike Hesson has made it clear Babar will not open.

Instead, he is expected to anchor the middle overs on slower Sri Lankan pitches, especially in controlled chases. "We don't see him opening the batting... the ability to attack in the powerplay is very important," Hesson explained, adding that Babar's value lies in managing tempo rather than setting it early.

Pakistan T20 World Cup predicted playing XI and schedule

A likely XI features Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Ali Agha (c), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Abrar Ahmed or Usman Tariq, depending on conditions.

Pakistan's group-stage schedule sees them face the Netherlands (Feb 7), USA (Feb 10), India (Feb 15), and Namibia (Feb 18), with the India fixture already surrounded by political uncertainty that could have competitive consequences.
For Pakistan, this squad is a calculated gamble: bowling-heavy, condition-aware, and reliant on clarity of roles. Whether that structure holds under World Cup pressure will define how far the Men in Green go in 2026.