The Pakistan Cricket Board continues its tradition of jaw-dropping selections with the 2026 T20 World Cup squad, where underperforming Babar Azam makes the cut under captain Salman Ali Agha, but BBL purple cap winner Haris Rauf does not.
The Big Bash League 2025-26 showcased Pakistani talent, yet outcomes stunned. For Sydney Sixers, Babar Azam tallied 202 runs in 11 matches, his 22.44 average and 103.06 strike rate signaling a steep dip in form. He fled potential demotion by returning for national commitments.
Melbourne Renegades’ Mohammad Rizwan notched 187 runs in 10 innings at 18.70 average, while teammate Haris Rauf’s 20 wickets came at 8.23 economy, crowning him the season’s best bowler. Early exits marred Shaheen Afridi and Shadab Khan’s campaigns.
Rizwan’s exclusion alongside Rauf’s omission, juxtaposed with Babar’s inclusion, fuels accusations of selector favoritism and inconsistency within the PCB. Here’s the complete squad: Salman Ali Agha (c), 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.
As debates rage, this squad selection could define Pakistan’s fortunes—or failures—in the upcoming World Cup, testing the board’s vision against public scrutiny.