Pakistan has announced their 16-member squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Australia in Lahore. This series serves as the final audition ahead of the T20 World Cup, which begins on February 7 in Colombo.
The selection is headlined by the return of Shaheen Shah Afridi and the exclusion of pacer Haris Rauf, despite contrasting fortunes in the Big Bash League (BBL).
Key Selections and Exclusions
- Shaheen Shah Afridi: The pace spearhead returns to national duty for the first time since a knee ligament injury sidelined him from the BBL last month.
- Babar Azam: Despite widespread speculation regarding his place in the side, Babar has been retained. He suffered a difficult BBL campaign, scoring 202 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 103.06—the lowest recorded for any player scoring over 200 runs in a season. His stint ended controversially following an on-field disagreement with Sydney Sixers teammate Steven Smith.
- Haris Rauf: In a surprise move, Rauf has been left out despite being the BBL’s highest wicket-taker (20 wickets). Selectors seemingly prioritized his costly performance in the Asia Cup final against India over his recent domestic success.
- Khawaja Nafay: Following an impressive debut in Sri Lanka, Nafay retains his spot as the designated wicketkeeper.
Squad Composition
Salman Ali Agha will captain the side. The bowling attack features a mix of returning pace and spin options.
Pakistan T20I Squad
- Captain: Salman Ali Agha
- Batters: Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub
- Wicketkeepers: Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Sahibzada Farhan, Usman Khan
- Spinners: Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq
- Pacers: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Salman Mirza
World Cup Implications
This series is critical for finalizing the starting XI for the T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Pakistan remains one of the few teams yet to officially lock in their tournament squad. They are scheduled to play the tournament opener against the Netherlands on February 7 in Colombo.
The boys are BACK! 🇵🇰🔥 Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi return to the T20I squad to face the Aussies in Lahore! 🦅🏟️
— CricNetworks (@cricnetworks) January 23, 2026
📅 Series starts Jan 29th at Gaddafi Stadium! Who are you most excited to see? 👇#PakistanCricket #PAKvAUS #T20WorldCup #BabarAzam #ShaheenAfridi #cricketfever pic.twitter.com/dbclxRuWSX
