LAHORE: Final deliberations on Pakistan’s squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and the upcoming domestic T20I series against Australia are expected to take place this weekend.
According to sources, white ball head coach Mike Hesson will arrive in Lahore at the end of Pakistan’s tour of Sri Lanka.
Once the consultation process is over, the team will be announced with the approval of PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has already submitted the preliminary list of players to the International Cricket Council (ICC) for the 2026 T20 World Cup co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
However, it is understood that the PCB can make changes to the submitted list without ICC approval till January 31.
The national T20 team players are returning home today after finishing the series in Sri Lanka.
Head coach Mike Hesson and captain Salman Ali Agha are expected to hold final discussions with the selectors before finalizing the squad.
Sources say captain Salman Ali Agha, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Faqar Zaman, Shatab Khan, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz, Usman Khan and Abrar Ahmed are among the likely players.
Other players under consideration are Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Salman Mirza and Khawaja Nafe, while the reserves include Abdul Samad, Mohammad Wasim Jr and Usman Tariq.
Meanwhile, PCB has sent Cricket Australia the proposed schedule for Australia’s Pakistan T20 International tour. According to sources, two draft itineraries for the three-match T20I series have been shared.
The proposed plans are for the Australian team to arrive in Pakistan on January 26 or 27 and depart on February 2 or 3.
The series is tentatively structured to include two back-to-back matches, followed by a one-day break before the third and final T20I.
Matches are proposed for January 29 and 31, while the third and final match is expected to take place on February 1.
2009 champions Pakistan begin their 2026 T20 World Cup campaign against the Netherlands on February 7 in Colombo.
They will face USA on February 10, followed by arch-rivals India on February 15 and Namibia on February 18 in their last group-stage game.
Notably, Pakistan will play all their matches in Sri Lanka, starting with four Group A matches in Colombo, while the Super Eight matches are scheduled to be held in Colombo and Kandy.
Sohail Imran
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