Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the squad for the three-T20I series on Sri Lanka soil in January 2026. Spin-bowling all-rounder Shadab Khan has returned to the squad. He had missed the T20 Asia Cup 2025 as he underwent surgery on his right shoulder.
The new edition to the squad is Khawaja Nafay. The 23-year-old averages 23.72 from 32 T20s. He has scored 688 runs at a strike rate of 132.81. He has seven half-centuries to his name as well.
BBL players except Shadab missing from squad -
Shadab is playing for Sydney Thunder in the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL). While Shadab is set for international return, other Pakistan players in the BBL have not been named in the squad. Mohammad Rizwan, Hasan Ali do not seem to be in the scheme of things whereas Shaheen Afridi picked up an injury on December 27. Haris Rauf has not been named in the squad as well.
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T20I series is scheduled to start on January 7. The remaining two matches will be played on January 9 and 11. It will serve as a preparatory series for Pakistan considering they will play all their T20 World Cup 2026 group stage matches in Sri Lanka.
After the tour of Sri Lanka, Pakistan are set to host Australia as well leading up to the T20 World Cup 2026.
Pakistan’s T20I squad for Sri Lanka tour -
Salman Agha (c), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmad, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk), Usman Tariq.
Sri Lanka’s 25-man T20 World Cup squad
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka named their preliminary T20 World Cup 2026 squad more than a week ago. Charith Asalanka has been removed from captaincy. Dasun Shanaka will lead Sri Lanka again.
Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Janith Liyanage, Charith Asalanka, Kamindu Mendis, Pavan Rathnayake, Sahan Arachchige, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Milan Rathnayake, Nuwan Thushara, Eshan Malinga, Dushmantha Chameera, Pramod Madushan, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushan Hemantha, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Traveen Mathew.