Pakistan will play T20 World Cup! Rizwan, Rauf dropped as Pak announces squad – Full lineup

In a move that has stunned the cricketing world, Pakistan has officially unveiled its 15-member squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup, making a bold statement by dropping veterans Mohammad Rizwan and Haris Rauf.

The 2009 champions will be led by Salman Ali Agha, as the PCB pivots toward a “balanced and aggressive” approach for the tournament starting February 7.

The squad announcement also ends suspense on Pakistan’s T20 World Cup participation. Pakistan had earlier supported Bangladesh who boycotted T20 World Cup in India but have now decided to participate in the competition, day after ICC replaced Bangladesh with Scotland.

Why have Rizwan and Rauf Missed out on a place in Pakistan squad

The exclusion of Rizwan, who has been a mainstay in the T20 setup since 2021, marks the end of an era for the famous “Bab-Riz” opening pair.

Mohammad Rizwan: Sidelined following a dip in T20I strike rates and a quiet run in the domestic circuit.

Haris Rauf: Omitted after a struggling performance in the 2025 Asia Cup, where he conceded 50 runs in the final against India. Head coach Mike Hesson reportedly favored the “control” offered by new faces over Rauf’s express pace.

Pakistan to play their matches in Sri Lanka

Due to the ongoing diplomatic standoff, Pakistan will play all their matches in Sri Lanka, even if they progress to the final. Their high-stakes clash against India is set for February 15 in Colombo.

Pakistan Squad: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq.

Here’s the full list of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 schedule

Knocout stage matches timetable