Pakistan's cricket landscape sees a significant shift as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) unveils a 15-member squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, with some notable omissions. The series, set to be held in Dambulla on January 7, 9, and 11, 2026, will proceed without the likes of Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Haris Rauf.
Salman Ali Agha has been appointed to lead the side. All-rounder Shadab Khan marks his return to the team after recovering from shoulder surgery. The squad also welcomes Khawaja Muhammad Nafi, a wicketkeeper-batter, who receives his maiden call-up to the T20 squad.
The decision to rest Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan indicates a strategic approach to evaluate the team's depth and explore alternative options ahead of the T20 World Cup. Shaheen Afridi's absence is attributed to an injury sustained in the Big Bash League, potentially jeopardizing his World Cup participation.
The squad includes a mix of experienced players and fresh talent: Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, and Usman Tariq.
With the T20 World Cup looming from February 7 to March 8, this series presents a crucial opportunity for players to stake their claim for a spot in the final World Cup squad. Pakistan will play all their World Cup matches in Colombo. The deadline for submitting preliminary squads for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 is January 7. Teams can make changes to their squads without approval up to that date.
The team management includes Naveed Akram Cheema as team manager, Mike Hesson as head coach (white-ball), Ashley Noffke as bowling coach, Muhammad Hanif Malik as batting coach, and Shane McDermott as fielding coach. The support staff comprises Cliff Deacon (physiotherapist), Grant Luden (strength and conditioning coach), Talha Ijaz (team analyst), and Syed Naeem Ahmed (media manager).
Pakistan is scheduled to depart for Sri Lanka in phases on January 4 and 5, 2026. This series serves as a platform for Pakistan to fine-tune their strategies and solidify their team composition for the challenges ahead.
