Pakistan Announces T20I Squad for Sri Lanka Series Without Key Players

Pakistan has unveiled its T20I squad for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka, set to take place from January 7 to 11. Notably absent are star players Babar Azam, Mohammed Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi, who are engaged in the Big Bash League. In their place, uncapped wicketkeeper-batter Khawaja Nafay has been called up after impressive performances in the Abu Dhabi T10 tournament. The squad aims to finalize strategies ahead of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup starting February 7. Read on for the full squad details and series schedule.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 28, 2025, 13:08 IST

Absences in the T20I Squad

The T20I squad for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka, scheduled from January 7 to 11, has been revealed, and it notably excludes star players Babar Azam, Mohammed Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi. According to the ICC, these players will not participate due to their commitments in Australia's Big Bash Cricket League (BBL).

Performance Overview

The trio has faced challenges in their recent performances. Babar Azam has scored only 71 runs in four innings for the Sydney Sixers, with just one fifty and three scores below ten. Rizwan has managed a mere 36 runs in two innings for the Melbourne Renegades, while Shaheen has taken only two wickets in four matches, averaging 76.50 with an economy rate of 11.19 while playing for Brisbane Heat.

Introducing New Talent

In a positive development, uncapped wicketkeeper-batter Khawaja Nafay has received his first call-up to the national team. Nafay recently showcased his skills in the Abu Dhabi T10 tournament, scoring 178 runs in eight innings at an average of 44.50, including one fifty. Over his career, he has accumulated 688 runs in 32 matches, averaging 23.72 with a strike rate exceeding 132, featuring seven fifties. He joins returning all-rounder Shadab Khan and captain Salman Ali Agha as they prepare for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, which begins on February 7, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Pakistan is placed in Group A alongside India, Namibia, the Netherlands, and the USA, with their first match against the Netherlands in Colombo.

Complete Pakistan T20I Squad

The selected squad includes: Salman Ali Agha (captain), 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, and Usman Tariq.

T20I Series Schedule

The series schedule is as follows: First T20I on January 7 in Dambulla, Second T20I on January 9 in Dambulla, and Third T20I on January 11 in Dambulla.