The Pakistan Cricket Board has finalized and submitted its preliminary squad for the ICC T20 World Cup, while keeping room for changes based on player performances in the upcoming series against Sri Lanka.
03 January, 2026
The Pakistan Cricket Board has finalized Pakistan’s preliminary squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup and has officially submitted the list of players to the International Cricket Council, according to media reports.
Sources revealed that the PCB has sent a provisional 15-member squad along with the names of reserve players. Under tournament regulations, the PCB is allowed to make changes to the submitted squad without ICC approval until January 31. After that deadline, any alteration will require clearance from the ICC’s technical committee.
Officials indicated that the final announcement of Pakistan’s World Cup squad, as well as the team for the upcoming T20 series against Australia, is likely to be made after the conclusion of the series against Sri Lanka. The board is keen to assess the performance of one or two players during the Sri Lanka series before locking in the final combination.
According to sources, the preliminary list includes players who are part of the Sri Lanka tour, along with senior and experienced names such as Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Haris Rauf. Their inclusion reflects the team management’s intent to rely on a blend of experience and form heading into the global event.
The ICC T20 World Cup is scheduled to begin on February 7 and will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Pakistan, however, will play all of its matches in Sri Lanka as part of the tournament arrangement.
With limited time remaining before the World Cup, the PCB’s approach suggests a focus on fine-tuning the squad rather than making sweeping changes. The upcoming series against Sri Lanka is expected to play a key role in final selection decisions as Pakistan prepares for one of the most important tournaments in the international cricket calendar.
