The source said that January 1 was the deadline given by the ICC for the participating teams to submit their provisional squads, and the PCB completed the process within the given timeframe
Babar Azam (Pic: File Pic)
Ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, Pakistan has submitted its provisional 15-member squad to the International Cricket Council (ICC), but has yet to make the list public, a source said.
The source also said that January 1 was the deadline given by the ICC for the participating teams to submit their provisional squads, and the PCB completed the process within the given timeframe.
So far, not all teams have submitted their provisional squads. The teams can later make changes to their 15-member squads until January 31 without seeking approval from the ICC. Any changes after that date would require special clearance from the ICC's technical committee.
According to the source, Pakistan's squad consists of the likes of star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, star batsman Babar Azam and all-rounder Shadab Khan, who has been out of international action since May last year, as he was struggling with a shoulder injury. He returned to action in the Big Bash League (BBL) and has been included in Pakistan's squad for the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, which is scheduled to start from January 7.
The selectors have largely picked players who are part of the Sri Lanka tour, with the final World Cup squad likely to be firmed up after the series, the source said.
Fast bowler Haris Rauf has not been included even in the provisional squad, while Shaheen's final selection will depend on his recovery from the knee injury sustained during the Big Bash League last week.
Other players named in the provisional squad include mystery spinners Usman Tariq and Abrar Ahmed, all-rounders Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Nawaz, along with Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Naseem Shah, Usman Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jr and Salman Ali Agha.
In the T20 World Cup 2025, Pakistan has been placed in Group A along with teams such as India, Namibia, the Netherlands, and the United States of America.
The "Green Shirts" will open their global tournament's campaign by playing a clash against the Netherlands on February 7 Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground in Sri Lanka. The much-anticipated clash between arch-rivals, India and Pakistan, is scheduled to be played on February 15 at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo.
(With PTI Inputs)
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
