The Pakistan Cricket Board has officially announced that Haris Rauf will not be part of the T20 World Cup 2026 squad. The tournament is scheduled to start on 7 February 2026 in India and Sri Lanka. Rauf, one of Pakistan’s leading fast bowlers, was unexpectedly omitted from the final 15-man squad. The decision has sparked discussions among fans and cricket analysts as Rauf has been a consistent wicket-taker in T20 cricket over the past few years.
Reasons for Dropping Haris Rauf
According to the team management the decision was based on team composition and match conditions. Pakistan’s pace attack already includes Shaheen Shah Afridi Naseem Shah and Salman Mirza who are seen as capable of bowling effectively during the powerplay middle overs and death overs. The conditions in Sri Lanka including pitches and weather also influenced the selectors’ choice. Additionally Haris Rauf’s recent form and fitness were considered as he has not been fully consistent in recent matches making it challenging to secure his role in the squad.
Impact on the Pakistan Team
Haris Rauf’s exclusion leaves a gap in Pakistan’s pace bowling department. The team will now rely heavily on Shaheen Afridi Naseem Shah Salman Mirza and other selected fast bowlers. While this may have a short-term impact on the team’s bowling strength the selectors prioritized overall team balance and strategic fit for the tournament.
Haris Rauf Reaction
Haris Rauf has not made any negative statements regarding his exclusion. Sources suggest that he is disappointed but respects the selectors’ decision and is focused on performing in future tournaments. Fans and teammates have shown support on social media expressing optimism about his possible comeback in upcoming matches.
Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 Squad
- Salman Ali Agha (captain)
- Abrar Ahmed
- Babar Azam
- Faheem Ashraf
- Fakhar Zaman
- Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (wk)
- Mohammad Nawaz
- Mohammad Salman Mirza
- Naseem Shah
- Sahibzada Farhan (wk)
- Saim Ayub
- Shaheen Shah Afridi
- Shadab Khan
- Usman Khan (wk)
- Usman Tariq
