Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has urged star batsman Babar Azam, T20I captain Salman Ali Agha and wicketkeeper-batsman Usman Khan to improve their strike-rate in the 2026 T20 World Cup co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
In a recent social media post, Latif praised opening batsman Sahibzada Farhan for his excellent performance this year, highlighting his impressive form and strike rate.
He also shared the stats of other players, urging them to improve, especially as some had strike rates below 120.
“Sahibzada Farhan is the most successful batsman in 2025. Captain Salman Ali Agha, Babar Azam and wicketkeeper Usman Khan need to work on their strike-rates for the World Cup,” Latif wrote on Facebook.
Farhan has indeed had a remarkable year in the shortest format, scoring 1,825 runs in 45 matches at an average of 43.45 and a strike rate of 153.23, including 12 fifties and four centuries.
In comparison, Babar has amassed 585 runs in 22 matches at a strike rate of 122.28, Agha has amassed 826 runs in 43 matches at 119.88 and Usman has 583 runs in 24 matches.
For the uninitiated, the International Cricket Council (ICC) released the schedule and groups for the T20 World Cup 2026 on November 25.
The tournament will feature 20 teams divided into five groups of four and will be held from February 7 to March 8.
The top two teams from each group advance to the Super Eight stage, which consists of two groups of four teams each.
Defending champions India and arch-rivals Pakistan have been drawn in the same group with the Netherlands, Namibia and the United States of America (USA).
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka face a tough group with Australia, Zimbabwe, Ireland and Oman.
Other groups include England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Italy and Nepal, while South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, United Arab Emirates and Canada make up the rest of the group.
Pakistan will begin their campaign against the Netherlands in Colombo, while India will face the USA in Mumbai on the same day.
Pakistan’s second group-stage game is scheduled for February 10 against the United States, followed by February 15 against R.C. in Colombo. A high-profile clash with India is scheduled to take place at the Premadasa Stadium.
The team will conclude their group-stage matches against Namibia on February 18.
All of Pakistan’s matches will be played in Sri Lanka under the ICC’s fusion formula, which will see Pakistan and India not face each other in any ICC tournament at home for three years at neutral venues.
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