KEY POINTS
- Pakistan submits a 15-man preliminary squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
- Unlimited changes are permitted until the final deadline of January 31, 2025.
- The squad features seniors Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Haris Rauf, with final spots pending tours of Sri Lanka and Australia.
- Pakistan will start its World Cup campaign on February 7, 2026, against the Netherlands in Colombo.
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has submitted its preliminary 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 to the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The mega-event, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, is scheduled from February 7 to March 8, 2026. The deadline for all 20 participating teams to submit their provisional squads is January 31, 2025.
Provisional Squad Submitted Ahead of Deadline
Pakistan, placed in Group A, has met the ICC deadline by submitting the names of its 15 provisional players along with a list of travelling reserves.
Teams are allowed to make unlimited changes to these preliminary squads without ICC approval until January 31. Any alterations after this date will require clearance from the ICC Technical Committee.
Senior Core Included, Final Assessment Pending
Insiders have revealed that the initial squad includes the experienced trio of Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Haris Rauf. The core of the squad is reportedly similar to the one selected for the upcoming away T20I series against Sri Lanka, set for January 7-11.
The PCB plans to use the Sri Lanka tour as a final evaluation platform to assess the form and fitness of a few key players before locking in the World Cup roster.
Path to Final Selection
Following the Sri Lanka tour, Pakistan is expected to announce its squad for a three-match home T20I series against Australia, likely to be held from January 30 to February 5, 2026. Sources indicate that the squad for this series and the final contingent for the T20 World Cup will be announced simultaneously, after observing performances in both the Sri Lanka and Australia assignments.
World Cup Schedule and Venues
The 2009 champions will begin their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign against the Netherlands on February 7 in Colombo. Pakistan will play all its matches in Sri Lanka, with all four Group A fixtures in Colombo. If they advance, their Super Eights matches are also scheduled in Colombo and Kandy.
