Salman Ali Agha to lead a balanced squad blending youth and World Cup experience
Lahore, Pakistan | Web Desk: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday announced a 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, naming Salman Ali Agha as captain for the global showpiece scheduled from 7 February to 8 March 2026.
The squad reflects a strategic blend of fresh talent and seasoned campaigners, as Pakistan prepare to open their tournament against the Netherlands on February 7 in Colombo.
The announcement was made during a press conference at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, attended by PCB Director High Performance Aqib Javed, T20I captain Salman Ali Agha, and white-ball head coach Michael Hesson.
Several players received their maiden World Cup call-ups, including Faheem Ashraf, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Sahibzada Farhan, and Usman Tariq, highlighting PCB’s focus on bench strength and future planning.
Meanwhile, experienced stars such as Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Naseem Shah, and Mohammad Nawaz provide the backbone of the squad with proven international credentials.
Pakistan are placed in Group A and will play four group-stage matches before advancing to the Super Eight and knockout rounds.
As part of preparations, Pakistan will host Australia for a three-match T20I series at Gaddafi Stadium on January 29, 31, and February 1, with the national training camp already underway.
