Category: Featured

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has postponed the unveiling ceremony of the team’s official jersey for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, sources confirmed on Thursday.

According to details, the PCB was planning to reveal the players’ official kit after the toss of the second T20I against Australia at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.

However, the ceremony has now been delayed due to what insiders described as unavoidable circumstances.

The development comes at a time when uncertainty continues to surround Pakistan’s participation in the mega event, which is set to begin on February 7 across India and Sri Lanka.

Sources further revealed that the PCB is expected to make its final decision regarding Pakistan’s participation on Monday, following key consultations at the highest level.

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Notably, Pakistan are currently scheduled to begin their World Cup campaign against the Netherlands on 7 February, and have been placed in Group A alongside arch-rivals India, as well as the USA and Namibia.

Under the tournament’s hybrid model, Pakistan’s group-stage matches are planned to be held in Sri Lanka, despite India being one of the co-hosts.

The situation surrounding Pakistan’s participation intensified last week when the ICC replaced Bangladesh with Scotland for the tournament after the former refused to travel to India.

The move has caused unease within the PCB, which publicly backed Bangladesh’s stance during the dispute.

READ: Former Pakistan all-rounder joins UAE coaching staff for T20 World Cup 2026

Lahore: Pakistan’s right-arm fast bowler Mohammad Wasim Jr has been released from the squad for the remaining matches of the three-game T20I series against Australia.

According to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) statement, the pacer will not be part of the remaining fixtures.

“Fast bowler Mohammad Wasim Jnr has been released from Pakistan’s T20I squad for the remaining two matches of the series against Australia,” the statement read.

Wasim, 24, is also not part of the Pakistan squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, set to begin on 7 February in India and Sri Lanka.

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The pacer was part of the Pakistan tour of Sri Lanka, where he picked up five wickets in two matches at an average of 12.20. Moreover, the pacer did not feature in the playing XI for the T20I series opener against Australia, which the Green Shirts won by 22 runs.

Pakistan updated T20I squad

Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk), and Usman Tariq.

READ: WATCH: Official song for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 revealed

LAHORE: Saim Ayub delivered a resounding all-round performance to help Pakistan open the T20I series on a winning note against Australia here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.

Set stiff 169, Australia fell short of the target by 22 runs and could only muster 146-8 at the end of their 20 overs.

Skipper Travis Head was off to a flyer as Australia raced to 21 in 1.5 overs.

But it was Saim Ayub who delivered the magic with his golden arm. The right-arm off spinner first cleaned up Matthew Short who scored five and then followed it up by dismissing dangerous Travis Head.

The southpaw hit two sixes and two fours in his 23 from 13 balls. As a result, Australia were in rebuilding stage as they lost two wickets for 28 in 3.2 overs.

The Australian innings similar thing through out their innings, losing wickets in quick succession.

Matt Renshaw and Cameron Green paired up for a 40 run partnership in quick time, keeping the run rate healthy. The pair brought the score to 57-2 at the end of the powerplay.

Just when Australia were gaining momentum, a costly run out ended the partnership as Renshaw (15 from 11) was back in the hutch.

The visitors suffered blow when Abrar Ahmed castled Cooper Connolly for a duck to put his side on top.

Consequently, Australia were reduced to 68-4 and later 96 for six in 12.2 overs, thanks to another run out.

Mitchell Owen was run out after managing eight while Josh Philippe scored 12 whereas Cameron Green top-scored with 36 from 31 balls. The tall-right hander struck three fours and a six during his knock.

As the visitors were in a mess, the lower middle order could not add too many, with Australian innings quickly unravelling until Xavier Bartlett’s lusty blows who provided them some respite.

The right-hander made useful runs down the order, scoring 34 off 25 balls, hitting two sixes and three fours which decreased the margin of loss for them.

For Pakistan, Saim Ayub and Abrar Ahmed shared four wickets between them. Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan took one wicket apiece.

Earlier, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha steadied Pakistan with a solid partnership that put the host in sight of a big total, but Australia’s Adam Zampa intervened to restrict them to a below-par score.

After opting to bat first, Pakistan managed to put 169-8 on the board at the end of their 20 overs.

Pakistan had a shaky start as they lost opener Sahibzada Farhan for a golden duck on the first ball of the innings.

After an early blow, skipper Salman Ali Agha joined hands with Saim Ayub, adding a 74 run partnership to steady Pakistan’s innings.

The pair batted briskly and finished the powerplay on strong note with home side 56-1.

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Both batters continued after the fielding restrictions were lift, however, the introduction of ace spinner Adam Zampa halted Pakistan’s proceedings.

The leg-spinner removed both set batters in a span of two overs to put Australia in a dominant position.

Saim made 40 from 22 with the help of two sixes and three fours while Agha 39 off 27 included four maximums and a boundary.

With Pakistan reduced to 86-3 in 9.2 overs, Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman came to the fore. The duo could only add 12 for the third wicket as Adam Zampa nabbed Babar Azam to break the home side’s momentum.

Babar, who made 24 off 20 with the help of a six and a boundary, was trapped lbw while attempting a reverse sweep.

Pakistan were 123-4 in 13.5 overs at this stage of the innings.

After Babar’s departure, wicket-keeper Usman Khan came to crease in a bid to up the anti. He struck two boundaries before losing his partner Fakhar Zaman whose sluggish knock of 10 from 16 included a single boundary.

Usman (18 off 14 balls) also followed him as Pakistan slumped to 140-5 to 160-8 in 19.4 overs.

Eventually, Pakistan innings ended on 168 for 8 with Mohammad Nawaz remaining unbeaten on 15 off 14 with the help of a six.

For Australia, Adam Zampa was the star bowler as he picked up a four wicket haul.

READ: Hyderabad owner Fawad Sarwar provides update on team name, logo reveal

BULAWAYO: Pakistan and India are set for a high-stakes showdown on Sunday, February 1, in what has effectively become a virtual knockout for a place in the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup 2026 semi-finals.

While fans are already dreaming of a potential Pakistan vs India final, the reality is that both teams qualifying from Super Six Group 2 is highly unlikely, though not impossible.

The outcome hinges on the result of England vs New Zealand, scheduled for Friday, January 30.

England currently lead their Super Six group, boasting an unbeaten 3-0 record, which includes wins carried forward against Pakistan and Zimbabwe from the group stage.

If England beat New Zealand, they will finish on eight points, securing a semi-final spot and leaving only one place for either Pakistan or India.

However, if New Zealand manage to turn things around and pull off an upset, the door opens for both Pakistan and India.

In that scenario, a Pakistan win over India on Sunday would create a three-way tie at six points, with Net Run Rate (NRR) deciding the top two teams to advance.

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At present, England’s NRR is 1.989, while Pakistan sits at 1.484 and India at 3.337. Pakistan can improve its NRR significantly with a dominant performance against India, potentially pipping England and qualifying for the semi-final with India.

However, in case of England’s victory, Pakistan not only have to defeat India, but to win in a manner to surpass their arch-rivals in NRR to make it to the semi-finals.

Currently, India hold the advantage with six points and a better NRR; however, the NRR gap may look daunting, but it’s not as impossible as it seems.

If Pakistan bat first and post a total of 300, they would need to win by at least 85 runs to surpass India’s NRR.

If Pakistan bowl first and restrict India to 200, they would need to chase the target in roughly 31.5 overs.

For a target of 251, Pakistan would need to finish the chase in about 33.2 overs.

READ: Finch, Clarke stunned over Haris Rauf’s exclusion from Pakistan T20I squad

The highly anticipated ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is set to begin on 7 February, and nearly all participating teams have announced their squads, except the USA and the UAE.

The marquee event will run until March 8, featuring 20 teams competing across a packed schedule of 55 matches, including the semi-finals and final.

The 20 teams have been divided into four groups of five, with the top two sides from each group progressing to the Super Eight stage, where the race to the knockout rounds will intensify.

Notably, defending champions India became the first team to officially unveil their squad for the tournament.

Group A features Pakistan and India alongside the USA, Namibia and the Netherlands, setting up a high-voltage contest early in the tournament.

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Group B includes 2022 champions Australia, co-hosts Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Oman and Ireland, making it one of the more unpredictable groups in the competition.

Group C brings together two of the tournament’s most decorated sides, England and West Indies, and also includes Italy, who are set to make history with their first-ever T20 World Cup appearance.

The group is further strengthened by Scotland, who earned a late entry into the tournament after replacing Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, Group D features New Zealand, 2024 runners-up South Africa, along with Afghanistan and Canada, ensuring no shortage of quality contests in the group stage.

Squads for T20 World Cup 2026

Group A

India: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Rinku Singh.

USA: Monank Patel (C), Jessy Singh, Andries Gous, Shehan Jayasuriya, Milind Kumar, Shayan Jahangir, Saiteja Mukkamala, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Harmeet Singh, Nosthush Kenjige, Shadley Van Schalkwyk, Saurabh Netravalkar, Ali Khan, Mohammad Mohsin, Shubham Ranjane.

Namibia: Gerhard Erasmus (c), Zane Green, Bernard Scholtz, Ruben Trumpelmann, JJ Smit, Jan Frylinck, Louren Steenkamp, Malan Kruger, Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Jack Brassell, Ben Shikongo, JC Balt, Dylan Leicher, WP Myburgh, Max Heingo.

Reserve: Alexander Volschenk.

Netherlands: Scott Edwards (c), Colin Ackermann, Noah Croes, Bas de Leede, Aryan Dutt, Fred Klaassen, Kyle Klein, Michael Levitt, Zach Lion-Cachet, Max O’Dowd, Logan van Beek, Timm van der Gugten, Roelof van der Merwe, Paul van Meekeren, Saqib Zulfiqar

Pakistan: Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq.

Group B

Australia: Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.

Sri Lanka [preliminary squad]: 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

Zimbabwe: Sikandar Raza (c), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Graeme Cremer, Bradley Evans, Clive Madande, Tinotenda Maposa, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Brendan Taylor

Ireland: Paul Stirling (c), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Ben Calitz, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Matthew Humphreys, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Harry Tector, Tim Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young

Oman: Jatinder Singh (c), Vinayak Shukla, Mohammad Nadeem, Shakeel Ahmad, Hammad Mirza, Wasim Ali, Karan Sonavale, Shah Faisal, Nadeem Khan, Sufyan Mehmood, Jay Odedra, Shafiq Jan, Ashish Odedara, Jiten Ramanandi, Hasnain Ali Shah.

Group C

England: Harry Brook (c), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood

West Indies: Shai Hope (c), Shimron Hetmyer, Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Quentin Sampson, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd

Scotland: Richie Berrington (c), Tom Bruce, Matthew Cross, Bradley Currie, Oliver Davidson, Chris Greaves, Zainullah Ihsan, Michael Jones, Michael Leask, Finlay McCreath, Brandon McMullen, George Munsey, Safyaan Sharif, Mark Watt, Bradley Wheal. Travelling reserves: Jasper Davidson, Jack Jarvis, Non-travelling reserves: Mackenzie Jones, Chris McBride, Charlie Tear

Italy: Wayne Madsen (c), Marcus Campopiano, Gian Piero Meade, Zain Ali, Ali Hasan, Crishan Jorge, Harry Manenti, Anthony Mosca, Justin Mosca, Syed Naqvi, Benjamin Manenti, Jaspreet Singh, JJ Smuts, Grant Stewart, Thomas Draca

Nepal: Rohit Paudel (c), Dipendra Singh Airee, Sandeep Lamichhane, Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh, Sundeep Jora, Aarif Sheikh, Basir Ahamad, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Nandan Yadav, Gulshan Jha, Lalit Rajbanshi, Sher Malla, Lokesh Bam

Group D

South Africa: Aiden Markram(c), Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, Jason Smith, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Anrich Nortje

New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (c), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Kyle Jamieson, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi

Reserve: Ben Sears

Afghanistan: Rashid Khan (C), Noor Ahmad, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Sediqullah Atal, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Naveen Ul Haq, Mohammad Ishaq, Shahidullah Kamal, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Darwish Rasooli, Ibrahim Zadran.

Reserves: AM Ghazanfar, Ijaz Ahmadzai, and Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi.

Canada: Dilpreet Bajwa (c), Ajayveer Hundal, Ansh Patel, Dilon Heyliger, Harsh Thaker, Jaskarandeep Buttar, Kaleem Sana, Kanwarpal Tathgur, Navneet Dhaliwal, Nicholas Kirton, Ravinderpal Singh, Saad Bin Zafar, Shivam Sharma, Shreyas Movva, Yuvraj Samra.

UAE: Muhammad Waseem (c), Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma, Dhruv Parashar, Haider Ali, Harshit Kaushik, Junaid Siddique, Mayank Kumar, Muhammad Arfan, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Zohaib, Rohid Khan, Sohaib Khan, Simranjeet Singh.

READ: WATCH: Rizwan becomes first Pakistan player to be retired out in T20s

LAHORE: The Pakistan Super League (PSL) on Wednesday revealed the Platinum category renewals ahead of the league’s first-ever player auction, set to take place on February 11.

A total of 16 players have been listed in the PSL 11 Platinum category, with Islamabad United dominating the renewals by naming six players, the most among all franchises.

Lahore Qalandars and Quetta Gladiators have three players each in the category, while Peshawar Zalmi named two. Karachi Kings and Multan Sultans have named one player each in Platinum.

The renewals also confirmed major category movements, with five local players promoted to Platinum, including Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali, and Abrar Ahmed.

Interestingly, Farhan is the only player who made the jump from Gold, while the remaining four were previously part of the Diamond category.

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Meanwhile, several high-profile names have retained their Platinum status after featuring in the same category in PSL 10.

The list includes Shadab Khan, Naseem Shah, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Babar Azam, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan, Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Amir.

Before the Platinum renewals were made official, the PSL had already confirmed category renewals in Silver, Gold, Diamond and Emerging, with a total of 89 players having their categories locked in ahead of the retention process.

Under the new structure, each franchise will be allowed to retain a maximum of four players, with the condition of one player per category.

After the retention window closes, franchises will move into the league’s historic first-ever auction on February 11 to complete their rosters.

PSL 11 Category Renewals (Retentions)

Platinum

• Islamabad United: Shadab Khan, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, Imad Wasim

• Karachi Kings: Hasan Ali

• Lahore Qalandars: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf

• Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam, Saim Ayub

• Multan Sultans: Mohammad Rizwan

• Quetta Gladiators: Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Amir, Abrar Ahmed

Emerging

• Islamabad United: Saad Masood, Mohammad Shahzad, Ghazi Gouri

• Peshawar Zalmi: Abdullah Fazal, Ali Raza, Maaz Sadaqat

• Karachi Kings: Razaullah, Fawad Ali, Saad Baig

• Multan Sultans: Shahid Aziz, Mohammad Zulfikar

• Quetta Gladiators: Mohammad Zeeshan, Shamyl Hussain

• Lahore Qalandars: Momin Qamar

Silver

• Multan Sultans: Yasir Khan, Amir Barki, Mohammad Junaid, Humayun Altaf, Ali Imran, Jahanzaib Sultan, Ubaid Shah

• Lahore Qalandars: Mohammad Akhlaq, Mohammad Naeem, Mohammad Azab

• Islamabad United: Mohammad Faiq, Hunain Shah

• Peshawar Zalmi: Arif Yaqoob, Mehran Mumtaz

• Quetta Gladiators: Ali Majid

Gold

• Multan Sultans: Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Faisal Akram, Akif Javed, Tayyab Tahir

• Lahore Qalandars: Zaman Khan, Jahandad Khan, Asif Afridi, Asif Ali

• Islamabad United: Azam Khan, Haider Ali, Salman Irshad, Rumman Raees

• Peshawar Zalmi: Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Ali, Abdul Samad, Hussain Talat, Sufyan Muqeem, Ahmed Daniyal, Ihsanullah

• Quetta Gladiators: Khurram Shahzad, Haseebullah Khan, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Hassan Nawaz, Danish Aziz

• Karachi Kings: Khushdil Shah, Aamer Jamal, Irfan Khan Niazi, Mir Hamza, Zahid Mahmood, Omair bin Yousuf, Shahnawaz Dahani, Arafat Minhas

Diamond

• Karachi Kings: Abbas Afridi, Shan Masood

• Lahore Qalandars: Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Salman Mirza

• Peshawar Zalmi: Sufiyan Muqeem

• Multan Sultans: Usama Mir, Iftikhar Ahmed, Usman Khan

• Quetta Gladiators: Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Usman Tariq

READ: Silver, Gold category players revealed ahead of PSL 11 auction

HARARE: Abdul Subhan’s four-wicket haul, followed by Sameer Minhas’ blistering knock, powered Pakistan to a dominant eight-wicket victory over New Zealand in their Super Six encounter of the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup 2026 at the Harare Sports Club on Tuesday.

Chasing a modest 111-run target, Sameer Minhas steered Pakistan across the line with 32.5 overs to spare, thanks to his brilliant knock of 76 runs.

The Green Shirts, however, did not get the desired start to the run chase, losing Hamza Zahoor in the third over with 18 runs on the board.

Minhas was joined by Usman Khan, who scored a cautious 15 off 24, and together they put Pakistan in the driving seat with a 67-run partnership.

Luke Harrison broke the stand, removing a struggling Usman, only to bring out skipper Farhan Yousaf to the crease, who added finishing touches to the run-chase.

Yousaf scored 11 off 9 while Minhas continued his strokeplay to help Pakistan cross the finishing line without further loss.

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Earlier, New Zealand were bundled for mere 110 runs after being invited to bat first.

The Black Caps never recovered from an early blow when opener Marco William Alpe was trapped by Ali Raza for just 2, leaving the side reeling at 7-1 in the third over.

A brief recovery seemed possible when Hugo Bogue and captain Tom Jones stitched together a 48-run partnership, but the stand was broken by Mohammad Sayyam, who dismissed Bogue for 39 off 27 balls.

The right-hander’s knock featured six boundaries and two sixes, yet his dismissal proved to be a turning point.

The momentum shifted further in the next over when Subhan struck, removing skipper Jones for 15, and New Zealand’s innings collapsed dramatically thereafter.

The Blackcaps slipped from 59-2 to 67-7, as Pakistan’s bowlers applied relentless pressure. Ali Raza and Abdul Subhan were the architects of the collapse, leaving New Zealand’s lower order scrambling for survival.

The tail tried to offer resistance, but it was short-lived. Callum Samson added just 10 before falling to spinner Momin Qamar, while Mason Clarke managed 17 off 48 balls before becoming Subhan’s fourth victim.

Hunter Shore contributed 13 but was run out, bringing the innings to a close at 110.

Subhan finished as the standout bowler with 4-11 in 6.3 overs, while Ali Raza supported him with 3 wickets. Mohammad Sayyam and Momin Qamar also chipped in with one wicket each.

READ: ICC clears the air on denying Bangladesh journalists T20 World Cup accreditation

A decision on Pakistan participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which is set to be held in India and Sri Lanka, is expected within days, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said on Monday.

Naqvi took to his X handle, revealing the details regarding the decision following a ‘producitve meeting’ with the PM Shehbaz Sharif.

“Had a productive meeting with the Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif. Briefed him on the ICC matter, and he directed that we resolve it while keeping all options on the table. It was agreed that the final decision will be taken either on Friday or next Monday,” he wrote.

The development comes in the wake of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland after the former refused to travel to India for the tournament, citing security concerns.

The ICC’s stance has triggered unease within the PCB, which has publicly backed Bangladesh during the dispute.

Speculation about Pakistan’s participation intensified after PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi confirmed on Saturday that the final call will be made by the federal government.

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The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is scheduled to begin on 7 February, with Pakistan originally set to open their campaign against the Netherlands.

Pakistan are drawn in Group A alongside India, the Netherlands, the USA and Namibia, with all of their group matches to be played in Sri Lanka under the hybrid model.

Pakistan are due to face the USA on 10 February, followed by the much-anticipated clash against India on 15 February, before concluding the group stage against Namibia on 18 February.

If Pakistan qualify for the semi-finals and final, both matches are slated to be played in Colombo. Otherwise, the knockout fixtures will take place in Kolkata and Ahmedabad.

READ: Pakistan considering boycott of T20 World Cup clash against India: sources

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) could face serious financial and sporting repercussions if the national team withdraws from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, according to reports in Indian media.

The speculation gathered pace after PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi confirmed on Saturday that the final decision on Pakistan’s participation will be taken by the federal government, following the ICC’s decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland for the marquee event.

Naqvi made it clear that the board would follow government directives, even if it means pulling out of the tournament.

However, sources cited in Indian media believe Pakistan’s stance is being viewed within ICC circles as a pressure tactic rather than a concrete decision to withdraw.

Meanwhile, officials within ICC have reportedly warned that an actual pullout could trigger severe penalties.

According to a report by Hindustan Times, ICC officials have indicated that Pakistan’s withdrawal at this stage would amount to a breach of the event’s participation agreement, with immediate financial consequences for the PCB.

The report claims that PCB’s annual ICC revenue share, estimated at around $34.5 million, could be frozen. The amount forms part of the ICC’s $3.2 billion media rights cycle (2024–27), a bulk of which is driven by the Indian market.

“As a direct consequence, PCB’s share of ICC annual revenue would be withheld,” an ICC official was quoted as saying on condition of anonymity.

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Beyond the financial hit, the report suggests that Pakistan could also face restrictions on future bilateral series and a diminished role in upcoming ICC events if the withdrawal is seen as politically motivated rather than based on cricketing or security concerns.

According to the report, a boycott could also impact the Pakistan Super League (PSL), particularly in terms of foreign player availability.

The report further added that if the Green Shirts boycott the T20 World Cup “solely on government advice” despite no issue concerning the team, then ICC will see it as an attempt to “weaponise sport for politics.”

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is scheduled to begin on 7 February, with Pakistan originally set to open their campaign against the Netherlands.

Pakistan are drawn in Group A alongside India, the Netherlands, USA and Namibia, with all of their group matches to be played in Sri Lanka under the hybrid model.

Pakistan are due to face the USA on 10 February, followed by the much-anticipated clash against India on 15 February, before concluding the group stage against Namibia on 18 February.

If Pakistan qualify for the semi-finals and final, both matches are slated to be played in Colombo. Otherwise, the knockout fixtures will take place in Kolkata and Ahmedabad.

READ: All you need to know about PSL 11 Player Auction

LAHORE: Pakistan have revealed their 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, set to begin on 7 February across Sri Lanka and India.

The squad was announced at a press conference attended by PCB Director of High Performance and member of the Men’s National Selection Committee Aqib Javed, Head Coach of the Pakistan white-ball team Mike Hesson, and T20I captain Salman Ali Agha.

Salman Ali Agha will lead the side for the first time in an ICC event. The team also features Faheem Ashraf, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Sahibzada Farhan, and Usman Tariq, all of whom will play the World Cup for the first time.

 

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The squad also includes Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, and Usman Khan.

For the unversed, the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will begin on 7 February with the opening match scheduled between Pakistan and the Netherlands.

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Pakistan are slotted in Group A alongside India, the Netherlands, the USA, and Namibia. The Green Shirts will play all their matches in Sri Lanka under the Hybrid model.

Following the fixture against the Netherlands, Pakistan will then lock horns with USA on 10 February.

The high-voltage clash against arch-rivals India will be played on 15 February, whereas their final group-stage match is against Namibia on 18 February.

If Pakistan qualify for the semi-finals and final, both knockout matches will be played in Colombo. Otherwise, the semi-final and final will be held in Kolkata and Ahmedabad, respectively.

Pakistan T20 World Cup Squad

Salman Ali Agha (Captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (WK), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (WK), and Usman Tariq.

Pakistan World Cup fixtures

Pakistan vs Netherlands: February 7, Colombo

Pakistan vs USA: February 10, Colombo

Pakistan vs India: February 15, Colombo

Pakistan vs Namibia: February 18, Colombo

READ: Mohsin Naqvi breaks silence on Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 participation