Pakistan's Quest for a Second T20 World Cup Title
Pakistan embarks on their ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 journey with aspirations of securing their second championship, leveraging their core batters and the versatile skills of all-rounders Saim Ayub and Mohammad Nawaz in Asian conditions. The team's preparation has been a blend of highs and lows, both on and off the field. Notably, home series victories against Australia and enhanced performances from spinners and all-rounders have injected optimism into the squad.
Team Performance Since the 2024 T20 World Cup
Following a group-stage exit in the 2024 T20 World Cup, Pakistan has competed in 47 T20 Internationals, achieving 27 wins and 20 losses. They have participated in 13 series or multi-team events, triumphing in seven. However, their away performances have been erratic, with defeats to Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand.
Their series outcomes include:
- A 0-3 loss to Australia away in November 2024
- A 2-1 win over Zimbabwe away in December 2024
- A 0-2 loss to South Africa away in December 2024
- A 1-4 loss to New Zealand away in March 2025
- A 3-0 win over Bangladesh at home in May 2025
- A 1-2 loss to Bangladesh away in July 2025
- A 2-1 win over West Indies in the USA between July and August 2025
- A tri-series win in the UAE over Afghanistan and UAE between August and September 2025
- Asia Cup runners-up finish to India in September 2025
- A 2-1 home series win over South Africa between October and November 2025
- A home tri-series win over Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in November 2025
- A 1-1 home series draw against Sri Lanka in January 2026
- A 3-0 home series win over Australia between January and February 2026
Top Performers Since the Last T20 World Cup
Saim Ayub has amassed 919 runs in 38 matches, averaging 26.25 with a strike rate of 141.16, including six half-centuries. He has also claimed 24 wickets at an average of 22.
Sahibzada Farhan has scored 862 runs in 34 matches, averaging 26.12 with a strike rate above 131, featuring eight half-centuries.
Salman Agha has contributed 856 runs in 45 matches, averaging 25.17 with a strike rate above 122, along with six fifties.
Abrar Ahmed has taken 44 wickets in 31 matches at an average of 16.88, including a four-wicket haul.
Mohammad Nawaz has secured 44 wickets at an average of 13.45, with two five-wicket hauls and best figures of 5/18. He has also added 419 runs in 26 innings, averaging 19.95 with a strike rate above 140, and a highest score of 38.
Shaheen Shah Afridi has captured 32 wickets in 28 matches at an average of 23.96, with best figures of 3/17.
Positives for Pakistan
Pakistan boasts a strong record in Sri Lanka, where they start their group-stage matches, with nine wins and four losses in T20Is played there.
Khawaja Mohammad Nafay has shown promise with two short innings in two T20Is and scored 178 runs in eight matches in the Abu Dhabi T10 for Quetta Qawalry at a strike rate of 243.5.
Mohammad Nawaz continues to be a dual threat, as evidenced by his statistics since the last World Cup.
Saim Ayub, the top-ranked T20I all-rounder, offers balance with his batting and spin bowling.
The spin trio of Abrar Ahmed, Saim Ayub, and Mohammad Nawaz has been effective, with a combined bowling average of 17.43 since the last T20 World Cup, ranking second among Test-playing nations behind India's 15.99.
Negatives for Pakistan
Babar Azam has rejoined the T20I side after a Big Bash League season where he scored 202 runs for Sydney Sixers at a strike rate above 103 and an average above 22, with two half-centuries. Since the last T20 World Cup, he has accumulated 360 runs in 16 innings, averaging 27.69 with a strike rate above 120 and three fifties. His inclusion suggests Pakistan has not fully transitioned away from the 'anchor' role in T20Is.
Haris Rauf is absent from the squad despite taking 31 wickets in 22 matches since the last T20 World Cup at an average above 21, including two four-wicket hauls.
Pakistan's overall batting strike rate of 129.32 is the third lowest among Test-playing nations, only ahead of Afghanistan (125.27) and Sri Lanka (124.83). The captain's strike rate of just over 122 exacerbates this concern.
Pakistan Squad for T20 World Cup 2026
The squad includes: Salman Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, and Usman Tariq.
Stay updated with the latest ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 developments, including the full schedule, team line-ups, live scores, points table, and key series statistics such as top run-scorers and wicket-takers.
