Pakistan’s squad announcement for the 2026 T20 World Cup has ignited a firestorm of controversy. Led by Salman Ali Agha, the 15-player unit controversially features Babar Azam, who bombed out in the Big Bash League, but snubs Haris Rauf, the competition’s leading bowler.
Several Pakistani cricketers lit up the BBL 2025-26, but results were mixed. Babar Azam, with Sydney Sixers, managed a paltry 202 runs across 11 outings, averaging 22.44 at a sluggish strike rate of 103.06. This poor form nearly saw him axed from a challenger match, leading to his hasty exit back home.
Teammate Mohammad Rizwan fared no better for Melbourne Renegades, scraping 187 runs in 10 knocks with an average of 18.70. Haris Rauf, despite leaking runs at 8.23 economy, snared 20 wickets to claim top honors. Shaheen Afridi and Shadab Khan had abbreviated stints due to injuries and international calls.
Critics slam the PCB for favoring Babar over in-form Rauf and struggling Rizwan, calling it a blatant display of bias. The announced lineup: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khwaja Mohammad Nafees (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq.
With such eyebrow-raising picks, Pakistan’s World Cup preparations are off to a turbulent start, raising doubts about their readiness for the marquee event.