In a thrilling announcement, the Pakistani team for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, has been officially declared. Leading the squad is Salman Ali Agha. Placed in Group A, Pakistan finds itself alongside rivals India, gearing up for a high-stakes tournament. Mark your calendars for February 7th, as Pakistan squares off against the Netherlands at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo.
The team was unveiled during a dynamic press conference held on January 25th (Sunday) at Lahore's iconic Gaddafi Stadium. Present at the event were PCB's High-Performance Director Aaqib Javed, skipper Salman Ali Agha, and the head coach of the white-ball team, Michael Hussey.
For the first time, players like Salman Ali Agha, Faheem Ashraf, Khwaja Nafay, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Sahibzada Farhan, and Usman Tariq have been selected for an ICC mega event. Meanwhile, seasoned players such as Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Naseem Shah, and Fakhar Zaman once again take on the World Cup challenge. Notably, fast bowler Haris Rauf and former captain Mohammad Rizwan are omitted from this lineup.
Pakistan Issues Boycott Threat Amidst Tournament Unveiling
While throwing its weight behind Bangladesh, Pakistan hinted at a World Cup boycott. This stance follows Bangladesh's refusal to travel to India, insisting on relocating matches to Sri Lanka – a request denied by ICC. Consequently, Scotland steps in to replace Bangladesh in this T20 extravaganza.
As many as 20 teams are set to participate in the T20 World Cup 2026. Every team will compete in four group games, progressing to the Super-8 and knockout stages thereafter. The tournament will unfold from February 7th to March 8th. Pakistan's pre-World Cup schedule includes a thrilling three-match T20 series against Australia, set for January 29th, 31st, and February 1st in Lahore.
Pakistan's Team for the T20 World Cup:
Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khwaja Nafay (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper), Sam Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), and Usman Tariq.
Pakistan's Group Matches in T20 World Cup:
February 7, 2026. vs Netherlands. SSC. ColomboFebruary 10, 2026. vs USA. SSC. ColomboFebruary 15, 2026. vs India. Premadasa. ColomboFebruary 18, 2026. vs Namibia. SSC. Colombo
