Pakistan have taken their first big step towards the 2026 T20 World Cup with the submission of a 20-member preliminary squad. Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi are back in the frame, but one of the biggest names in Pakistan’s recent T20 story, Mohammad Rizwan, has been left out.
The squad was submitted before the ICC’s January 7 deadline, with head coach Mike Hesson now holding the authority to reduce the group to the final 15, along with travelling reserves, ahead of the tournament which begins on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka.
Hesson’s reset: Babar returns, Rizwan dropped
As per Telecom Asia Sport, Babar’s inclusion comes after his solid recent run in the Big Bash League (BBL). Babar has made 129 runs at 32.25 for Sydney Sixers so far in five innings. Meanwhile, Shaheen is expected to recover fully from a knee injury in the coming weeks. Both had been missing from Pakistan’s recent T20I squad for the Sri Lanka series due to their BBL commitments, not form, as had initially been speculated.
The real headline, though, is Rizwan’s omission. According to PCB sources, Hesson is leaning towards a more aggressive T20 structure and has identified Usman Khan as his preferred wicketkeeper-batter. The Babar-Rizwan opening duo was already dashed during the Asia Cup 2025, where Pakistan made Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub open the innings with Fakhar Zaman also an option.
MatRunsHSAveBFSR4/64583214.5581008/0Muhammad Rizwan stats at BBL 2025/26The selection was made by a reduced three-member panel comprising Aqib Javed, Aameen Dar and Asad Ali, following Azhar Ali’s resignation, with all three operating on equal authority.
Pakistan squad for PAK vs SL T20Is
Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmad, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk), Usman Tariq
Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi part of Pakistan’s preliminary T20 World Cup 2026 squad; no place for Rizwan Inside Sport India.
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