Pakistan India and Sri Lanka have revealed their 15-man squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 to be jointly hosted and the selection has already sparked intense debate. the return of Babar Azam Brings stability and experience to the batting order in the absence of a fast bowler. Haris Rauf emerges as the biggest discussion point. Under the leadership of Salman Ali Aga, Pakistan aim to recapture their 2009 glory in the tournament starting on 7 February.
Babar Azam returns to Pakistan’s T-20 team
Babar’s inclusion is a timely boost for Pakistan as they prepare for the demands of conditions in the subcontinent. Babar, who recently became the leading run-scorer in men’s T20 Internationals, not only brings runs but also calm leadership and big-match temperament. His presence allows Pakistan to open the innings while the younger and more aggressive batsmen play with freedom around him.
With Babar, the batting unit has a mix of power and finesse Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Sahebzada Farhan And Osman Khan. The selectors have clearly prioritized flexibility, ensuring that the lineup can adapt to both the high-scoring venues and slow, spin-friendly surfaces expected in India and Sri Lanka.
Haris Rauf dropped, pace attack revamped
Rauf’s absence signals a change in Pakistan’s fast bowling strategy. The team management has placed its trust on control, swing and experience rather than outright pace. Speed responsibilities will largely depend on Shaheen Shah Afridi And Naseem ShahA pair well versed in taking advantage of early movement and delivering kills.
Supporting him, Mohammad Salman Mirza and Usman Tariq are offering variety and depth. The decision shows that Pakistan are favoring consistency and fitness rather than raw pace, especially for a long tournament where workload management will be key.
Also read: Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi return, Pakistan announces T20 squad for home series against Australia
All-round depth provides strategic freedom
The strongest aspect of the Pakistan team is its all-round depth. Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan And Mohammad Nawaz Give the team multiple combinations, allowing them to make changes to the eleven depending on the opposition and circumstances. Shadab’s leg-spin and aggressive batting remain vital in the middle overs, while Nawaz’s left-arm spin adds balance against right-heavy lineups. This abundance of all-rounders provides tactical flexibility to captain Salman Ali Aga, especially in pressure games where matchups can decide the outcome.
Pakistan finds itself in Group A along with defending champions India, Netherlands, USA and Namibia. This is a competitive pool where no game can be taken lightly. The former champions will begin their campaign against Netherlands in Colombo on February 7, which could set the tone for the rest of their trip.
Pakistan team for T20 World Cup 2026: Salman Ali Aga (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafe (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saeem Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq.
Also read: Bangladesh officially out of T20 World Cup 2026; ICC announced replacement