Pakistan Squad for T20 World Cup 2026 – Complete Team List

Q: Who is the captain of Pakistan's T20 World Cup 2026 squad?

Salman Ali Agha has been appointed as captain for Pakistan's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign. The all-rounder takes over the leadership role, bringing his experience and calm approach to guide the team through the tournament.

Q: Why is Babar Azam not captaining the Pakistan team?

While Babar Azam remains in the squad as a key batsman, the selectors have opted for a change in leadership. This decision allows Babar to focus purely on his batting without the additional pressures of captaincy, potentially unlocking even better individual performances.

Q: How many specialist spinners are in Pakistan's squad?

Pakistan has selected four spin bowling options: Shadab Khan (leg-spinner), Abrar Ahmed (mystery spinner), Usman Tariq (leg-spinner), and Mohammad Nawaz (left-arm orthodox). This variety provides tactical flexibility across different pitch conditions.

Q: Who are the fast bowlers in Pakistan's T20 World Cup squad?

Pakistan's pace attack features Shaheen Shah Afridi as the primary strike bowler, Naseem Shah providing express pace, and Faheem Ashraf as a seam-bowling all-rounder who can contribute with both bat and ball.

Q: Which young players should we watch out for in this squad?

Saim Ayub, Abrar Ahmed, and Khawaja Nafay represent Pakistan's emerging talent. These players bring fresh energy, fearless approaches, and the potential to become tournament stars with match-winning performances.

Q: Who is the wicketkeeper in Pakistan's squad?

Mohammad Salman Mirza serves as the primary wicketkeeper. Additionally, Usman Khan can provide backup wicketkeeping duties if required, giving Pakistan flexibility in team composition.

Q: How many all-rounders does Pakistan have in the squad?

Pakistan has four genuine all-rounders: captain Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, and Mohammad Nawaz. This depth provides significant batting lineup extension and bowling variety.

Q: Is Fakhar Zaman still in Pakistan's T20 plans?

Yes, Fakhar Zaman remains a crucial part of Pakistan's T20 setup. His explosive batting ability and experience in ICC tournaments make him an invaluable asset, particularly for aggressive powerplay starts and middle-order acceleration.

February 10, 2026
Cricket
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The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced its 15-member squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, marking a significant moment in the nation’s cricketing journey. With a blend of experienced campaigners and emerging talents, the Green Shirts are gearing up to challenge for their second T20 World Cup title after their memorable triumph in 2009.

Overview of Pakistan Squad for T20 World Cup 2026

Pakistan’s selection for the T20 World Cup 2026 reflects a strategic approach that balances youth with experience. The squad features several players who have proven themselves on the international stage, alongside promising newcomers ready to make their mark on cricket’s biggest platform.

Leadership and Captaincy

In a noteworthy decision, Salman Ali Agha has been appointed as captain of the Pakistan squad. The all-rounder brings a calm demeanor and tactical acumen to the leadership role, having demonstrated his abilities in both batting and bowling departments. His appointment signals Pakistan’s intent to build a team culture centered on stability and strategic thinking.

Complete Squad Breakdown

Top-Order Batsmen

The batting lineup features some of Pakistan’s most explosive talents capable of changing the game’s complexion within a few overs.

Babar Azam remains a cornerstone of Pakistan’s batting strategy. Despite stepping down from captaincy, the elegant right-hander brings invaluable experience and consistency. His ability to anchor innings while maintaining a healthy strike rate makes him indispensable to Pakistan’s T20 ambitions.

Sahibzada Farhan has earned his place through impressive domestic performances and opportunities in international cricket. The opening batsman possesses the attacking mindset crucial for powerplay success in modern T20 cricket.

Fakhar Zaman brings explosive left-handed firepower to the top order. Known for his aggressive approach and match-winning capabilities, Fakhar’s inclusion ensures Pakistan has a genuine game-changer who can dominate bowling attacks from the outset.

Saim Ayub represents the new generation of Pakistani cricket. The young left-handed opener has shown tremendous promise with his fearless batting style and versatility, capable of bowling useful left-arm spin when required.

Middle-Order Strength

Usman Khan provides crucial middle-order stability. His ability to accelerate when needed while also rebuilding innings makes him a valuable asset in Pakistan’s batting arsenal.

Khawaja Nafay is an exciting addition to the squad. The young batsman has caught selectors’ attention with his clean striking and composure under pressure, offering fresh options in the middle order.

Mohammad Salman Mirza adds wicketkeeping depth and batting prowess. His glovework behind the stumps and ability to finish innings make him a multi-dimensional player for various match situations.

All-Rounders – The X-Factor

Pakistan’s all-rounder contingent provides crucial balance to the squad composition.

Captain Salman Ali Agha leads from the front as a genuine batting all-rounder. His off-spin provides an additional bowling option while his middle-order batting adds depth.

Shadab Khan remains one of Pakistan’s premier all-rounders. His leg-spin wizardry in middle overs, combined with aggressive lower-order batting, makes him virtually undroppable from any Pakistani T20 lineup.

Faheem Ashraf offers seam-bowling all-rounder capabilities. His ability to swing the new ball, bowl effective death overs, and contribute handy runs down the order provides tactical flexibility.

Mohammad Nawaz brings left-arm spin and left-handed batting to the mix. His experience in restricting run-flow during middle overs and ability to hit boundaries make him a valuable squad member.

Spin Department

Pakistan’s spin attack features variety and quality, essential for success on different surfaces.

Abrar Ahmed has emerged as Pakistan’s mystery spinner. His googly variations and ability to pick wickets in clusters make him a potent weapon, especially in middle overs where controlling run-rate is crucial.

Usman Tariq adds further depth to Pakistan’s spin options. The leg-spinner’s inclusion demonstrates selectors’ commitment to having multiple spin variations available for different conditions.

Fast Bowling Arsenal

Pakistan’s pace attack features genuine speed and skill, capable of troubling the best batsmen in world cricket.

Shaheen Shah Afridi spearheads Pakistan’s bowling attack. The left-arm quick’s ability to swing the new ball, bowl yorkers at the death, and take wickets consistently makes him one of the world’s premier T20 bowlers.

Naseem Shah provides raw pace and aggression. His ability to consistently bowl above 145 kph, combined with improving death-over skills, makes him an invaluable asset for Pakistan’s bowling plans.

Squad Strengths

Batting Depth

Pakistan’s squad boasts considerable batting depth extending through to number eight or nine. This allows for aggressive cricket throughout the innings without fear of running out of recognized batsmen. Players like Shadab Khan and Faheem Ashraf have proven their ability to contribute crucial runs in pressure situations.

Bowling Variety

The combination of left-arm pace from Shaheen Shah Afridi, right-arm speed from Naseem Shah, leg-spin from Shadab Khan and Usman Tariq, mystery spin from Abrar Ahmed, and left-arm orthodox from Mohammad Nawaz provides Pakistan with options for every situation and surface type.

Fielding Standards

Modern T20 cricket demands excellence in the field, and Pakistan’s squad features several athletic fielders. Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, and Naseem Shah are particularly known for their boundary-saving efforts and safe hands.

Potential Concerns and Challenges

Experience in Leadership

While Salman Ali Agha brings stability, leading Pakistan in a World Cup presents unique pressures. The team will need senior players like Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi to provide support and share leadership responsibilities.

Middle-Order Consistency

Pakistan’s middle order has historically been a vulnerable area. The team will rely heavily on the form and fitness of Usman Khan and emerging players like Khawaja Nafay to provide stability between overs 7-15.

Death Bowling Execution

While Pakistan possesses quality fast bowlers, death bowling remains a skill that requires constant refinement. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah will need to execute their yorkers and variations consistently under pressure.

Key Players to Watch

Babar Azam’s Form

Babar Azam‘s form will be crucial to Pakistan’s success. Free from captaincy responsibilities, he can focus purely on his batting, potentially unlocking even greater performance levels.

Shaheen’s Fitness

Shaheen Shah Afridi‘s fitness and form will be monitored closely. As Pakistan’s premier strike bowler, his ability to deliver in powerplay and death overs could define Pakistan’s tournament.

Emerging Stars

Young guns like Saim Ayub and Abrar Ahmed have the potential to become tournament revelations. Their fearless approach and X-factor abilities could prove decisive in crucial matches.

Tactical Flexibility

Pakistan’s squad composition allows for multiple tactical approaches:

Aggressive Opening Strategy: Pairing Fakhar Zaman with Sahibzada Farhan or Saim Ayub enables an ultra-aggressive powerplay approach.

Spin-Dominated Middle Overs: With four quality spin options including Shadab Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, and Usman Tariq, Pakistan can strangle opposition batting lineups on spin-friendly surfaces.

Pace Attack Variation: The left-arm angle of Shaheen Shah Afridi complementing the right-arm pace of Naseem Shah provides natural variation.

Historical Context

Pakistan’s T20 World Cup history includes memorable moments – from the 2009 triumph under Younis Khan to near-misses in subsequent editions. This squad represents Pakistan’s ambition to reclaim T20 cricket’s ultimate prize. The blend of experience from players like Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi with the hunger of newcomers creates an intriguing dynamic.

Comparison with Previous Squads

Unlike previous selections that relied heavily on a few star performers, this squad demonstrates greater depth. The inclusion of multiple spin options shows learning from past tournaments where Pakistan struggled on slower surfaces. The all-rounder presence through Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, and Mohammad Nawaz provides batting depth that previous Pakistani T20 squads lacked.

Expectations and Predictions

Pakistan enters the T20 World Cup 2026 as a dangerous team capable of defeating any opposition on their day. The squad’s balance suggests they’re well-equipped for various conditions and match situations. Success will depend on key players delivering consistently and the team maintaining composure in pressure moments – an area where Pakistan has both excelled and faltered historically.

The combination of Babar Azam‘s class, Shaheen Shah Afridi‘s penetration, Fakhar Zaman‘s explosiveness, and emerging talents like Abrar Ahmed creates genuine reasons for optimism among Pakistani cricket fans worldwide.

Support Staff and Preparation

Behind every successful team lies meticulous preparation. Pakistan’s coaching staff will focus on specific skill development, particularly death bowling execution, powerplay batting strategies, and middle-over consolidation. The support staff’s role in managing player workloads and maintaining fitness levels throughout the tournament cannot be understated.

Fan Expectations

Pakistani cricket fans are known for their passionate support and high expectations. This squad has the tools to deliver performances worthy of that support. From Babar Azam‘s elegant strokeplay to Naseem Shah‘s fiery pace, fans will have plenty to cheer about throughout the tournament.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Who is the captain of Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad?

Salman Ali Agha has been appointed as captain for Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign. The all-rounder takes over the leadership role, bringing his experience and calm approach to guide the team through the tournament.

2. Why is Babar Azam not captaining the Pakistan team?

While Babar Azam remains in the squad as a key batsman, the selectors have opted for a change in leadership. This decision allows Babar to focus purely on his batting without the additional pressures of captaincy, potentially unlocking even better individual performances.

3. How many specialist spinners are in Pakistan’s squad?

Pakistan has selected four spin bowling options: Shadab Khan (leg-spinner), Abrar Ahmed (mystery spinner), Usman Tariq (leg-spinner), and Mohammad Nawaz (left-arm orthodox). This variety provides tactical flexibility across different pitch conditions.

4. Who are the fast bowlers in Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad?

Pakistan’s pace attack features Shaheen Shah Afridi as the primary strike bowler, Naseem Shah providing express pace, and Faheem Ashraf as a seam-bowling all-rounder who can contribute with both bat and ball.

5. Which young players should we watch out for in this squad?

Saim Ayub, Abrar Ahmed, and Khawaja Nafay represent Pakistan’s emerging talent. These players bring fresh energy, fearless approaches, and the potential to become tournament stars with match-winning performances.

6. Who is the wicketkeeper in Pakistan’s squad?

Mohammad Salman Mirza serves as the primary wicketkeeper. Additionally, Usman Khan can provide backup wicketkeeping duties if required, giving Pakistan flexibility in team composition.

7. How many all-rounders does Pakistan have in the squad?

Pakistan has four genuine all-rounders: captain Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, and Mohammad Nawaz. This depth provides significant batting lineup extension and bowling variety.

8. Is Fakhar Zaman still in Pakistan’s T20 plans?

Yes, Fakhar Zaman remains a crucial part of Pakistan’s T20 setup. His explosive batting ability and experience in ICC tournaments make him an invaluable asset, particularly for aggressive powerplay starts and middle-order acceleration.

9. What is Pakistan’s strongest playing XI from this squad?

While the final XI depends on conditions and opposition, a likely strongest combination includes: Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Usman Khan, Salman Ali Agha (c), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Abrar Ahmed.

10. When was Pakistan’s last T20 World Cup victory?

Pakistan won their only T20 World Cup title in 2009 under the captaincy of Younis Khan, defeating Sri Lanka in the final. Since then, they’ve come close on several occasions, including a runner-up finish in 2022. The current squad aims to end that wait and bring the trophy back to Pakistan.

Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad represents ambition, balance, and depth. With match-winners throughout the lineup, from Babar Azam‘s batting mastery to Shaheen Shah Afridi‘s bowling brilliance, Pakistan enters the tournament as genuine contenders. The blend of youth and experience, coupled with tactical flexibility provided by quality all-rounders, positions Pakistan as a formidable force capable of challenging for cricket’s ultimate T20 prize.