Haris Rauf, on the other hand, has been dropped from the team after a poor show in the Asia Cup 2025. Mohammad Rizwan also failed to make a return to the squad after an ordinary run in the Big Bash League (BBL).
Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Babar, and Salman will be the main batsmen for Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2026, while the bowling will rest on the shoulders of Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Wasim Jr., and Usman Tariq. Spinner Abrar Ahmed will hold the key in the sluggish Sri Lankan conditions along with Shadab Khan. Mohammad Nawaz and Faheem Ashraf were other all-rounders picked in the squad. Usman Khan was retained as the backup wicketkeeper-batsman
The squad is very similar to what Pakistan picked for the T20I series against Australia from January 29, with Salman Mirza the only name to miss out. Pakistan are placed in Group A, along with India, USA, Netherlands, and Namibia. The Men in Green will open the T20 World Cup campaign against the Netherlands on February 7 in Colombo.
Pakistan T20I 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 (wk) and Usman Tariq.