Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi ditch national duty for BBL as Pakistan squad for Sri Lanka tour officially announced

Pakistan stunned the cricket world with the announcement of the T20I squad for the Sri Lanka tour, as the selectors have made some bold calls, and several big names are missing, which highlights how they want to try new combinations as they move closer to the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

Pakistan Names Squad for Sri Lanka T20Is; Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi Omitted

On Sunday, October 28, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a 15-member T20I squad for the upcoming three-match series against Sri Lanka, with significant changes as the team builds towards the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, starting on February 7 in India and the island nation.

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In a major shift, the former Pakistan captains Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, along with pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi, have been rested for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour. Their absence paves the way for a fresh lineup under captain Salman Ali Agha.

Babar, Rizwan, Afridi, and Rauf are all set to miss the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka T20I series due to their commitments in the ongoing Big Bash League 2025-26 (BBL 2025-26) in Australia.

Pakistan T20I Squad for Sri Lanka Tour: Full Player List

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Key Selection Takeaways & Notable Omissions

Major Comeback: The experienced all-rounder Shadab Khan returns to the Pakistan setup after recovering from a shoulder injury and regaining form in the ongoing BBL.

New Face: Khawaja Nafay, the 23-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, receives his maiden national call-up after impressive performances for Pakistan Shaheens. He has so far played 32 T20 matches and has scored runs at a strike rate of 132.81.

Notable Absences: As confirmed by the PCB, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi, and Fakhar Zaman are unavailable for selection as they are currently participating in overseas leagues, including the Big Bash League, the Bangladesh Premier League, and ILT20.

Read Also: Shaheen Afridi FAKED INJURY in BBL? Pacer leaves field after being destroyed by the Adelaide Strikers

However, Shaheen's absence is alarming, as he sustained an injury during Brisbane Heart’s BBL clash against Adelaide Strikers.

T20 World Cup 2026 Implications

This T20I series in Sri Lanka serves as a critical audition for Pakistan's final T20 World Cup 2026 squad. The PCB stated, “The series will provide Pakistan an opportunity to finalize their squad for the ICC T20 World Cup, set to take place in India and Sri Lanka from 7 February to 8 March.”

PAK vs SL T20I Series 2024: Full Schedule

The PCB has confirmed that the Pakistan squad will depart for Sri Lanka in the first week of January, with all three T20Is scheduled to be played at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium (RDICS) in Dambulla.

The three-match T20I series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka is scheduled as follows:

January 7: First T20I, Dambulla

January 9: Second T20I, Dambulla

January 11: Third T20I, Dambulla

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