The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially released its 15-man squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup, but the announcement comes with a heavy cloud of uncertainty. Despite the fast-approaching ICC deadline, the board has made it clear that naming a team is not a definitive “yes” to participating in the tournament.
This tension follows recent comments from PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who hinted that Pakistan’s involvement remains undecided following Bangladesh’s exit from the competition. While the fans now have a list of names to cheer for, the final decision rests in the hands of the government, leaving the cricket world waiting for a green light.
Key Inclusions and Major Snubs in the 15-Man Roster
The squad closely mirrors the group selected for the upcoming bilateral series against Australia, with one glaring omission: Mohammad Wasim Jnr. Head coach Aaqib Javed emphasized that the selection committee’s role is strictly limited to picking the best available talent, regardless of the political back-and-forth. “The government will decide on our participation,” Javed noted, underscoring that the squad announcement was simply a matter of meeting the ICC’s January 30 deadline.
Perhaps the most debated decision is the exclusion of Haris Rauf. Despite being the top wicket-taker in the Big Bash League (BBL), Rauf appears to still be paying the price for a costly performance against India in the Asia Cup final. His inability to defend runs in the death overs during that high-stakes thriller seems to have pushed him down the pecking order, as the selectors have opted for a different pace attack.
Spin Dominance and a New Era Under Salman Agha
Reflecting the expected conditions in Sri Lanka, Pakistan has leaned heavily into their spin department. The squad features a robust lineup of slow bowlers, including Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed, and Usman Tariq. This tactical shift meant sacrificing an extra seamer, leaving Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Salman Mirza as the primary specialist fast bowlers.
In a significant leadership change, Salman Agha will captain the side, marking the first time veteran batter Babar Azam will participate in a T20 World Cup without the captaincy. Babar’s inclusion itself has raised eyebrows following a dismal BBL campaign where he recorded the lowest strike rate for any player scoring over 200 runs in a season. Despite his recent struggles and a publicized on-field friction with Sydney Sixers teammate Steven Smith, the selectors have backed his experience for the global stage.
Pakistan T20 World Cup Squad: Salman Agha (c), 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.
