Babar Azam Returns, Haris Rauf Snubbed: Pakistan Unveils T20 World Cup Squad

Pakistan has announced its 15-member squad for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, and it's a mix of experience and youth. Babar Azam is back in the team, leading the batting lineup, while Salman Ali Agha will captain the side. Haris Rauf and Mohammad Rizwan are the notable omissions, with Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah leading the pace attack. With an ICC deadline of January 30 for all teams to finalise their squads, there was never enough time to assess individual performances in the series against Australia. That means Haris Rauf, the top wicket-taker in the Big Bash League, will miss the T20 World Cup. Haris Rauf's last T20I appearance was indeed in the Asia Cup final against India, where his performance was criticized for conceding 50 runs in 3.4 overs. Since then, he's fallen down the pecking order for Pakistan, and was recently left out of the T20 World Cup 2026 squad. The selectors, led by Aaqib Javed, focused on conditions in Sri Lanka, where Pakistan will play their matches, and opted for a more versatile pace attack with Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Salman Mirza. Rauf, Pakistan's highest wicket-taker in T20Is with 133 wickets in 94 matches, has been impressive in the Big Bash League, taking 20 wickets in 11 matches. Despite his absence from recent international action, he's committed to improving his game and has expressed support for the national team. He returned home with Sixers progressing to the finals, and though the official line was he had been called back for national duty, there were calls - including from former Australia batter Mark Waugh - to drop him from Sixers' starting XI. It will be Babar's first T20 World Cup where he participates without being captain of the side, which will be led by Salman Agha. Pakistan's T20 World Cup 2026 Squad : Batsmen: Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, All-rounders: Salman Ali Agha (c), Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Wicket-keepers: Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Usman Khan, Pace Bowlers: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Salman Mirza, Usman Tariq, Spin Bowlers: Abrar Ahmed