Pakistan T20 World Cup Squad 2025 List of Playing 11, Announcement
When we talk about “Pakistan T20 World Cup Squad 2025,” the key question is simple: who are the players most likely to represent Pakistan in the next ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, and how is the team shaping up ahead of the tournament.
Pakistan enters the 10th edition of the T20 World Cup, commencing on February 7 next year, with strong momentum. The Asian side were most recently victorious in a tri-series at home against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, showcasing a well-balanced squad and strategic depth.
According to T20 captain Salman Ali Agha, the majority of the players who featured in that tri-series are expected to be part of the World Cup squad. He added that there will likely be no major changes, emphasizing that all players have been assigned clear roles which the team will continue to follow.
This approach ensures stability, clarity, and continuity, giving Pakistan a balanced combination of experience and emerging talent heading into the tournament.
How Pakistan’s 2025 World Cup Pool Was Decided
25‑Player Pool: What It Means
- In July 2025, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that they had finalised a 25‑player pool with the upcoming T20 World Cup in mind.
- The idea behind this pool is to “build bench strength and long-term team stability.”
- The captain of the T20 side emphasised that only these 25 players will be in contention — and rotating players within this group is part of the strategy until final selection.
Senior Players Retained
Among the 25‑man pool, some veteran names remain secure, reflecting a balance of experience and youth:
| Player | Role / Significance |
|---|---|
| Babar Azam | Senior batter, past T20I captain, backbone of batting order |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | Strike bowler, leading pacer in T20s for Pakistan |
| Mohammad Rizwan | Experienced wicketkeeper‑batter, previous white-ball stalwart |
The captain publicly confirmed that these three are part of the World Cup pool and remain central to the team’s plans.
Central Contracts Reflect Trust
The latest 2025–26 central contract list by PCB underlines who is officially in the core plans. Players like Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi are in Category B contracts, underlining their importance to the national side.
Probable Pakistan Squad for T20 World Cup 2025 / 2026
As of now (Dec 2025), the official 15‑member World Cup squad has not been announced. But several credible sources have outlined a probable 15‑man squad based on recent selection moves, contract lists, and captain’s statements.
Here’s a reconstructed likely squad:
| Player | Role / Strength |
|---|---|
| Babar Azam | Top‑order Batter — experience and consistency |
| Saim Ayub | Aggressive Top‑order Batter — T20 adaptability |
| Usman Khan (wk Batter) | Wicket‑keeper + lower‑middle batting option |
| Salman Ali Agha (captain / all‑rounder) | Captaincy, spin-off-break, middle order flexibility |
| Hasan Nawaz | Top‑order batting option / backup opener |
| Sahibzada Farhan | Middle-order batting depth and flexibility |
| Mohammad Nawaz | All‑rounder / Spinner (left‑arm orthodox) — adds bowling variety |
| Faheem Ashraf | Bowling all‑rounder — seam + lower-order batting depth |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | Strike Fast Bowler — lethal new ball thunder |
| Naseem Shah | Fast Bowler — pace, youth, and speed complementing Shaheen |
| Mohammad Wasim Jr. | Fast‑medium / death overs specialist — likely to feature in playing XI |
| Abrar Ahmed | Spinner / Mystery Spinner — T20‑friendly spin option |
| Salman Mirza or another left‑arm seamer | For bowling balance (left‑arm variety) |
| Haris Rauf | Senior pacer for variety, death bowling and experience under pressure |
Note: This is a probable squad based on public information (pool, contracts, captain’s statements). The final 15‑man squad will be announced by PCB closer to the tournament start, and may include or exclude players based on form, fitness, and team balance.
What Selection Strategy Is PCB Following
Understanding how the squad is being built helps you appreciate the choices. Here are key strategic priorities:
1. Blend of Experience and Youth
PCB isn’t simply banking on veterans. While names like Babar, Shaheen, and Rizwan remain, the inclusion of younger players such as Saim Ayub, Hasan Nawaz, and Mohammad Wasim Jr. indicates a future‑oriented approach. The 25‑player pool is designed not just for the immediate tournament but for long-term stability.
2. Balanced Bowling Attack
- Pace bowling remains a priority, with a combination of strike pacers like Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, plus death‑overs specialists like Mohammad Wasim Jr. and Haris Rauf.
- Spin resources are also diversified: off‑spin, left‑arm orthodox, and mystery spin (Abrar Ahmed) to adapt to different pitch conditions.
- This variety aims to give Pakistan flexibility, especially on subcontinental wickets that may favour spin or slower bowling.
3. Defined Roles and Stability
The team has assigned clearly defined roles to players — a shift from earlier eras of frequent changes. The plan is to maintain continuity until the World Cup, allowing players to settle into roles.
4. Performance and Recent Form Count
Selection is influenced not only by past reputation but current performance. Central contract upgrades were awarded to players like Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha, and Shadab Khan based on their recent contributions.
What Can Change Before Final Squad Announcement
Even though current signals point toward a stable core, a few things could still shift:
- Form and fitness: a bad patch or injury could open the door for others outside the 25‑man pool.
- Emerging talent breakthrough: strong domestic or league performance could compel selectors to take a chance on fresh faces.
- Pitch and venue considerations: if conditions favour spin heavily (e.g. subcontinent tracks), selectors may lean for more spinners.
- Team balance needs: final squad might adjust balance between batters, bowlers, and all‑rounders depending on competition and opponent strength.
FAQ’s
What is the likely Pakistan T20 World Cup squad 2025/2026
The likely 15‑man squad includes a mix of senior and emerging players: Babar Azam, Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Salman Ali Agha (captain), Hasan Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Abrar Ahmed, Salman Mirza (or another left‑arm seamer), Haris Rauf, and potentially one more spin/pace option.
Will seniors like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan be part of the World Cup squad
Yes. Senior stars Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Mohammad Rizwan are part of the 25‑man World Cup pool.
How many players are in Pakistan’s T20 World Cup pool
PCB finalized a 25‑player pool in mid-2025 for T20 World Cup preparations.
What is Pakistan’s strategy for selecting the T20 World Cup squad
The strategy involves balancing youth and experience, building bench strength, rotational opportunities within the 25‑man pool, defined roles for players, and a bowling attack that mixes pace and spin to adapt to various conditions.
Could the final squad list change before the tournament
Yes. Final 15‑man squad may change based on form, fitness, team balance, pitch conditions, and last‑minute selection dynamics.
When will PCB announce final 15‑man T20 World Cup squad
Final picks are often confirmed a few weeks before the first match, though the official date has not been announced.
If you want to follow the journey of Pakistan’s 2025 T20 World Cup squad, this is the moment to pay attention. The 25‑player pool reflects a cautious but strategic approach, mixing experience and youth, ensuring role clarity, and giving chance to emerging talent. As the selection window narrows, much will depend on form, fitness, and how well players adapt to pressure.
For supporters, it’s a promising phase: the blend looks balanced, and if the team gets the combination right, Pakistan could be as competitive as ever in the next T20 World Cup. For analysts and fans alike, keeping tabs on player performances in the upcoming T20Is, tri-series, and domestic leagues will offer strong hints about the final squad.
