🏏 Pakistan's Bold Squad Shakeup Excludes Babar for Sri Lanka T20Is

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Key Takeaways

1📊 Khawaja Nafay debuts with 132.81 T20 strike rate after smashing Haris Rauf.
2🏆 Shadab Khan back post-injury, last took 4 wickets vs Bangladesh in June.
3💡 Salman Agha leads after record 34 T20Is in 2025, testing World Cup depth.
4🔮 Stars like Babar prioritize BBL before T20WC Group B vs India in Colombo.
5💬 PCB: 'Series finalizes World Cup squad' amid bold exclusions.

"Four key players will be missing when Pakistan's T20 World Cup preparations go up a notch during a three-game T20I series against Sri Lanka next month."

Pakistan have dropped cricket superstars Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Mohammad Rizwan from their T20I squad for the upcoming three-match series against Sri Lanka in Dambulla, starting January 7, 2026. Instead, uncapped wicketkeeper-batter Khawaja Nafay earns a maiden call-up, joining returning all-rounder Shadab Khan under captain Salman Ali Agha. This surprise move prioritizes BBL commitments for the stars while testing fresh talent ahead of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in February-March. It's a high-stakes gamble as Pakistan fine-tune their Group B lineup featuring India, Namibia, Netherlands, and USA.

Salman Ali Agha has led Pakistan in a record 34 T20Is this year, showcasing his tactical nous in white-ball cricket. Shadab Khan, absent since June's 3-0 win over Bangladesh where he claimed 4 wickets and scored 55 runs, returns post-shoulder surgery and BBL stints with Sydney Thunder. Khawaja Nafay, the 23-year-old right-hander, boasts a T20 strike rate of 132.81 across 32 matches, highlighted by audacious upper-cuts off Haris Rauf in PSL trials. With stars prioritizing domestic leagues, this squad blends experience from Fakhar Zaman and Naseem Shah with youth, signaling a strategic pivot amid Pakistan's inconsistent T20 form.

Tactical Reset for T20 World Cup Glory

This selection mirrors Pakistan's historical experiments, like the 2007 T20 World Cup squad blending veterans with unknowns under Bob Woolmer. Nafay's inclusion echoes Saim Ayub's breakout, with his 132.81 strike rate surpassing Fakhar Zaman's recent 120 in T20Is. Shadab's return bolsters spin options—his leg-spin economy of 7.2 in 124 T20Is could counter Sri Lanka's middle order. Dropping Babar (T20I average 39.43, 4,145 runs) risks short-term losses but tests depth, much like Australia's 2015 ODI rebuild. Stats show Pakistan's bench strength: Abrar Ahmad's mystery spin (T20 economy 6.8) and Mohammad Wasim Jnr's pace (18 wickets at 8.5 economy).

BBL Prioritization Reshapes Global Prep

Excluding BBL stars fulfills PCB's assurance to Cricket Australia, allowing Babar et al. to complete leagues before World Cup integration. This impacts Pakistan's momentum but highlights Salman Agha's leadership—his 34 T20Is cap him as a steady hand. Compared to India's structured rotations, Pakistan's approach risks cohesion but could unearth gems like Nafay, whose Shaheens form rivals Usman Khan's 150+ strike rate. Series outcomes will influence World Cup probables, with Group B clashes against India looming large.

Road to Colombo: World Cup Watchpoint

Post-Sri Lanka (Jan 7-11), Pakistan face Australia in T20Is before the World Cup in India-Sri Lanka, all Group B games in Colombo. Success here cements Nafay and Shadab's roles; failure prompts Babar-Shaheen recalls. Fans must watch: will youth propel Pakistan past semi-final droughts since 2021?