Reporting snapshot · 23 January 2026. This report reflects The Nation's account of the Pakistan squad announcement published on 23 January 2026 and does not include later changes.
What happened
The Pakistan Cricket Board unveiled a 16-player squad on 23 January 2026 for the three-match T20I series against Australia, scheduled to be played at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The series will begin on 29 January, followed by matches on 31 January and 1 February, with all games starting at 4:00 pm Pakistan Standard Time.
Who is in the squad
The squad named Salman Ali Agha as captain and marked the return of Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi, who had missed Pakistan’s away T20I series against Sri Lanka earlier in January. All-rounder Shadab Khan continued his comeback and was listed alongside spinners Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz and Usman Tariq.
The squad graphic listed Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper) and Usman Tariq.
Why it matters
The series is part of Pakistan’s build-up towards the 2026 T20 World Cup, and the return of Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi restores two senior players to the shortest format. The report said the squad and support staff would assemble in Lahore on 24 January, with training sessions beginning the following day, and that the series would be only Australia’s second T20I series on Pakistani soil, after their lone appearance in April 2022.
What is still uncertain
The report did not explain why any particular player was left out of the squad, and it gave no separate note on a vice-captain beyond naming Salman Ali Agha as captain. It also did not give fitness details for the returning players.
Sources & reporting notes
This article summarises published reporting and is not eyewitness reconstruction. Sources were reviewed on 23 January 2026.
- The Nation — PCB announces 16-man Pakistan squad for home T20I series against Australia23 January 2026 · The 16-player squad, the schedule and venue for the series, the returns of Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi, and the Lahore assembly and training dates.
