Ahead of T20 World Cup, why did PCB snub Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi for Sri Lanka series?

New Delhi: In what came as a shocking move ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) ignored Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi from their squad for the upcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka.

Pakistan announced their 15-member squad for the upcoming three-match series against the island nation which serves as the preparation before the showpiece event in February. The decision, which was confirmed by the PCB, also witnesses other key names like Mohammad Rizwan and Haris Rauf missing out of the build-up series.

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While the absence of these senior players has raised a question on the cricket board but it is imperative to understand the reason behind the PCB ignoring all these seasoned campaigners before the marquee World Cup begins. Pakistan play the away T20I series beginning from January 7 to 11, with Salman Ali Agha named as the skipper.

All the senior players in the camp namely Babar, Afridi, Rizwan and Rauf will remain to be in Australia where they are engaged in the Big Bash League (BBL). They will continue to fulfill their BBL commitments, which is the only factor why they have not been named in the squad by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

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Their cricket board honoured their franchise contracts and thus opted not to recall the seasoned players despite the showpiece event being just over a month away. Meanwhile, among some other notable changes is the recalling of all-rounder Shadab Khan, who last featured in a T20I match back in June.

Shabad, who was under rehabilitation from a shoulder surgery, has successfully returned to the squad with uncapped wicketkeeper-batter Khawaja Nafay also earning his first senior national call-up. This has indicated that the Pakistan cricket board is ready to move on from the senior players, reducing their dependency and focusing on the emerging talent.