Amidst speculation over Pakistan deciding to opt out of the T20 World Cup 2026, a 15-member squad was announced on Sunday. Head coach Aaqib Javed reportedly confirmed that the naming of the squad should not be read as a sign of Pakistan having made a final decision, as it had nothing to do with the team's ultimate call on participation.
Those responsible for selecting the players for the tournament just did their job, and the government will decide if the team should travel to India for the tournament or not. "We are selectors, and our job is to pick the team. We've announced the team very close to the deadline. The government will decide on our participation, so I can say nothing on that front. That's what the chairman has said, too, so we'll wait for their decision," ESPNcricinfo quoted him as saying.
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January 30, Friday, was the ICC-allotted deadline for all participants to confirm their squads.
Shortly after the ICC officially removed Bangladesh from the T20 World Cup due to their refusal to play in India, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi had condemned the decision as an injustice. He said a final decision about Pakistan's participation would be made after an interaction with Islamabad. "Our stance [on participation] will be what the government of Pakistan instructs me," he said. "The Prime Minister is not in Pakistan right now. When he returns, I'll be able to give you our final decision. It's the government's decision. We obey them, not the ICC," ESPNcricinfo quoted Naqvi, who is also the Interior Minister of the country, as saying.
PCB and BCB against ICC: The story so far
Pakistan will play exclusively in Sri Lanka because of the fraught political relations between New Delhi and Islamabad. The PCB had thrown its weight behind the BCB ever since its decision not to travel to India for the tournament was announced. Pakistan went to the extent of telling the ICC that they were willing to host Bangladesh's group stage games if given the chance.
Bangladesh have been replaced by Scotland following their refusal to tour India due to safety concerns, which the governing International Cricket Council (ICC) has rejected. Pakistan brought back former captain Babar Azam, spin-bowling all-rounder Shadab Khan, and fast bowler Naseem Shah, but there was no place for wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan. Fast bowler Shaheen Afridi, spinner Abrar Ahmed, and top-order batter Fakhar Zaman are among those who retained their places in the T20 squad.
Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 squad: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk), Usman Tariq.