Pakistan has submitted its provisional 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup 2026 to the International Cricket Council (ICC), with the announcement pending. The deadline for submission was January 1st. While the official list remains unreleased to the public, sources confirm the inclusion of experienced players Shaheen Shah Afridi and Babar Azam.
However, Shaheen Afridi's participation is contingent upon his recovery from a knee injury sustained during the Big Bash League (BBL). He has been called back to Pakistan for treatment and rehabilitation at the PCB's High Performance Centre in Lahore. Initial assessments suggest he requires complete rest. The severity of the injury and his recovery timeline will be determined after further evaluation by the board's medical team. This isn't the first time that Shaheen has had knee issues, as he also injured himself during the 2022 T20 World Cup.
Babar Azam's form has been a topic of discussion. While he is considered one of the finest batters of his generation, he has had a difficult run over the past year. Since the last T20 World Cup in mid-2024, he has only managed two half-centuries in the T20I format. His position in the ICC T20I Batting Rankings has also declined. However, teammate Josh Philippe has expressed confidence that Babar will rediscover his best form in time for the World Cup.
The provisional squad also includes Shadab Khan, who has been out of international action since May of last year due to a shoulder injury. He returned to competitive cricket in the Big Bash League and has been included in Pakistan's squad for the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka.
Other players named in the provisional squad include Usman Tariq, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz, Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Naseem Shah, Usman Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jr and Salman Ali Agha. Fast bowler Haris Rauf has not been included even in the provisional squad.
The selectors have largely picked players who are part of the Sri Lanka tour, with the final World Cup squad likely to be firmed up after the series. The PCB can make changes to the submitted names without ICC approval until January 31st. Any alterations after that date will require clearance from the ICC's Technical Committee.
Pakistan is placed in Group A along with India, Netherlands, Namibia, and the United States of America. They will begin their campaign against the Netherlands on February 7th.
