Major Shake-Up: Pakistan Excludes 7 Players for T20 World Cup 2026
Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad announcement has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world. While the return of senior stars signals experience, the exclusions reveal a clear philosophical shift by the team management under new leadership.
Below is a complete, in-depth breakdown of the squad, the seven high-profile omissions, and the thinking behind Pakistan’s biggest T20 shake-up in years.
The “Excluded 7”: Big Names Who Missed Out
Despite strong reputations and recent involvement, the following seven players were left out of the final 15:
❌ Haris Rauf
The most surprising omission. Head coach Mike Hesson confirmed that Sri Lankan pitches require fewer express pacers and more control. Pakistan opted for only three specialist seamers, costing Rauf his place.
❌ Mohammad Rizwan
Dropped due to role mismatch, not form. Management wants a wicketkeeper who can bat in the lower-middle order, while Rizwan remains a specialist opener.
❌ Mohammad Wasim Jr
Overlooked as selectors preferred a more balanced pace-spin mix.
❌ Hasan Ali
The experienced campaigner narrowly missed out in favor of younger or more adaptable options.
❌ Mohammad Haris
Despite his reputation as an “X-factor” player, inconsistency at international level worked against him.
❌ Khushdil Shah
Dropped as Pakistan doubled down on proven spin-all-rounders like Shadab and Nawaz.
❌ Sufiyan Muqeem
Left out after recent developmental exposure, indicating selectors want tournament-ready experience.
Official Pakistan Squad – T20 World Cup 2026
A balanced yet unconventional 15-member group built specifically for Sri Lankan conditions.
🏏 Captain
- Salman Ali Agha
🏏 Batting Core
- Babar Azam
- Fakhar Zaman
- Saim Ayub
🧤 Wicketkeepers
- Sahibzada Farhan
- Usman Khan
- Khawaja Mohammad Nafay
🔁 All-Rounders
- Shadab Khan
- Mohammad Nawaz
- Faheem Ashraf
⚡ Fast Bowlers
- Shaheen Shah Afridi
- Naseem Shah
- Mohammad Salman Mirza
🌀 Spinners
- Abrar Ahmed
- Usman Tariq
Why This Radical Shake-Up Happened
1. Sri Lanka-First Selection Policy
All group matches are in Sri Lanka, where:
- Slow pitches
- Heavy dew
- Grip for spinners
This explains the spin depth over raw pace, directly impacting Haris Rauf.
2. New Leadership Structure
- Salman Ali Agha continues as captain after a successful run
- Babar Azam returns strictly as a senior batter, removing leadership pressure
This separation of roles aims to free Babar’s batting.
3. Wicketkeeper Role Redefined
Pakistan has deliberately moved away from top-order keeper-batters like Rizwan to test:
- More aggressive
- Flexible middle-order options
This is a tactical gamble, not a personal snub.
Pakistan Group A Schedule – T20 World Cup 2026
All matches in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
| Opponent | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | Feb 7, 2026 | Colombo |
| USA | Feb 10, 2026 | Colombo |
| India | Feb 15, 2026 | R. Premadasa Stadium |
| Namibia | Feb 18, 2026 | Colombo |
The India clash at R. Premadasa is expected to be the group’s defining fixture.
Final Verdict
This is not a safe squad. It is a conditions-specific, forward-thinking selection.
Pakistan has:
- Prioritized spin and flexibility
- Reduced dependence on express pace
- Redefined leadership and wicketkeeping roles
If the pitches behave as expected, this squad could look brilliantly engineered. If not, the omissions will face heavy scrutiny.
Either way, Pakistan has made it clear:
T20 World Cup 2026 will be played on their terms, not old reputations.
