Babar Azam, who is the highest run-getter in T20Is; Shaheen Shah Afridi, who’s the captain of Pakistan’s ODI team; and Haris Rauf, who is the highest wicket-taker for Pakistan in the 20-over format of the game,
on Sunday (December 28) were ignored by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) selectors for a place in Pakistan’s T20I squad for the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka next month.
Along with the trio, former ODI and T20I captain Mohammad Rizwan is also not picked in the T20I squad. All four of them are playing in the Big Bash League (BBL) these days and will remain in Australia for the remainder of the tournament, but spin-bowling all-rounder Shadab Khan has been included in the squad.
27-year-old Shadab, who is playing for Sydney Thunder in BBL, last played a T20I match for the Men in Green in Lahore on June 1, 2025, against Bangladesh.
Uncapped keeper-batter Khawaja Nafay has earned his maiden call-up for the away series.
A few surprises as Pakistan reveal their squad for the upcoming T20I series with Sri Lanka 👀https://t.co/jo7y27PpnK
— ICC (@ICC) December 28, 2025
Pakistan squad: Salman Ali Agha (C), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmad, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq
Series schedule
| DATE | DAY | MATCH | VENUE |
| January 7 | Wednesday | 1st T20I | Dambulla |
| January 9 | Friday | 2nd T20I | Dambulla |
| January 11 | Sunday | 3rd T20I | Dambulla |
The three T20Is in Dambulla on January 7, 9 and 11 will help Pakistan prepare for the T20 World Cup 2026.
The 2026 edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will be played from February 7 to March 8. The matches of the 20-team tournament will be played across five venues in India and three in Sri Lanka.
Due to tense political relations between the two countries, Pakistan will not travel to India and will play all their matches in Colombo and Pallekele. If they qualify for the semifinal and final, then those two fixtures will also be played in Sri Lanka.
In the T20 World Cup 2026, Pakistan is clubbed with India, the Netherlands, Namibia and the USA in Group A. The match between India and Pakistan is scheduled to take place at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on February 15.
