Pakistan’s Shadab Khan (R) celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Sri Lanka’s Dhananjaya de Silva in the course of the first Twenty20 worldwide cricket match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan on the Rangiri Dambulla Worldwide Stadium in Dambulla on January 7, 2026. — AFP
LAHORE: Remaining consultations on Pakistan’s squad for the Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC) Males’s T20 World Cup 2026 and the upcoming residence T20I sequence towards Australia are anticipated later this week.
Sources stated white-ball head coach Mike Hesson is about to reach in Lahore after Pakistan’s tour of Sri Lanka concludes.
As soon as the session course of is accomplished, the squad will likely be introduced with the approval of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
The PCB has already submitted a preliminary checklist of gamers to the ICC for the T20 World Cup 2026, which will likely be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
Nonetheless, it’s understood that the PCB could make modifications to the submitted checklist with out ICC approval till January 31.
Members of the nationwide T20I squad are returning residence at this time after finishing the sequence in Sri Lanka.
Head coach Mike Hesson and captain Salman Ali Agha are anticipated to carry closing discussions with the selectors earlier than the squad is finalised.
Sources say the possible gamers embrace captain Salman Ali Agha, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz, Usman Khan and Abrar Ahmed.
Different gamers into consideration are Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Salman Mirza and Khawaja Nafay, whereas Abdul Samad, Mohammad Wasim Jr and Usman Tariq are prone to be named among the many reserve gamers.
In the meantime, the PCB has forwarded a proposed schedule for Australia’s T20 Worldwide tour of Pakistan to Cricket Australia. In accordance with sources, two draft itineraries have been shared for a three-match T20I sequence.
The proposed plans counsel that the Australian crew might arrive in Pakistan both on January 26 or 27, with departure scheduled for February 2 or 3.
The sequence is tentatively structured to incorporate two back-to-back matches, adopted by a one-day break earlier than the third and closing T20I.
It’s understood that fixtures have been proposed for January 29 and 31, whereas the third and closing match is anticipated to be performed on February 1.
Pakistan, the 2009 champions, will start their T20 World Cup 2026 marketing campaign towards the Netherlands on February 7 in Colombo.
They’ll face the USA on February 10, adopted by clashes towards arch-rivals India on February 15 and Namibia on February 18 of their closing group-stage match.
It’s pertinent to notice that Pakistan will play all of their matches in Sri Lanka, beginning with 4 Group A fixtures in Colombo, whereas Tremendous Eight matches are scheduled to be held in Colombo and Kandy.
