Pakistan enter the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup aiming for a second title, banking on their main batting and all-round contributions from Saim Ayub and Mohammad Nawaz in Asian conditions.Their build-up to the tournament has seen mixed results on and off the field. At the same time, home series wins against Australia and improved performance from spinners and all-rounders provided some positives.
T20 World Cup | “Bangladesh are our brothers. Really sad for them” – Salman Ali Agha
Team record since the 2024 T20 World CupSince their group stage exit to the 2024 T20 World Cup, Pakistan have played 47 T20Is, winning 27 and losing 20.They have participated in 13 series or multi-team events, winning seven. Results away from home were inconsistent, with losses in Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.Their series results are as follows: 0-3 loss to Australia away in November 2024; 2-1 win over Zimbabwe away in December 2024; lost 0-2 to South Africa away in December 2024; lost 1-4 to New Zealand away in March 2025; 3-0 win over Bangladesh at home in May 2025; lost 1-2 to Bangladesh away in July 2025; a 2-1 win over West Indies in the USA between July and August 2025; a three-series win in the UAE over Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates between August and September 2025; Asian Cup runners-up finish in September 2025 in India; a 2-1 home series win over South Africa between October and November 2025; home tri-series wins over Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in November 2025; a 1-1 home series draw against Sri Lanka in January 2026; and a 3-0 home series win over Australia between January and February 2026.Best performances since the last T20 World CupSaim Ayub scored 919 runs in 38 matches at an average of 26.25 and a strike rate of 141.16, with six half-centuries. He also took 24 wickets at an average of 22.Sahibzada Farhan has 862 runs in 34 matches at an average of 26.12 and a strike rate of over 131, with eight half-centuries.Salman Agha has scored 856 runs in 45 matches at an average of 25.17 and a strike rate of over 122, with six fifties.Abrar Ahmed took 44 wickets in 31 matches at an average of 16.88, including four wickets.Mohammad Nawaz took 44 wickets at an average of 13.45, with two five-wicket hauls and best figures of 5/18. He also scored 419 runs in 26 innings at an average of 19.95 and a strike rate of over 140, with a highest score of 38.Shaheen Shah Afridi took 32 wickets in 28 matches at an average of 23.96, with best figures of 3/17.Positive for PakistanPakistan have a record of nine wins and four losses in T20Is played in Sri Lanka, where they begin their group stage matches.Khawaja Mohammad Nafay played two short innings in two T20Is. He also scored 178 runs in eight matches in the Abu Dhabi T10 for Quetta Qawalry at a strike rate of 243.5.Mohammad Nawaz continues to contribute with both bat and ball as reflected in his tally since the last World Cup.Saim Ayub, the top-rated T20I all-rounder, provides balance in batting and spin bowling.The spinning group of Abrar Ahmed, Saim Ayub and Mohammad Nawaz produced results. Their combined bowling average of 17.43 since the last T20 World Cup is second among Test-playing nations, behind India’s 15.99.Negative for PakistanBabar Azam returned to the T20I side after a Big Bash League season where he scored 202 runs for the Sydney Sixers at a strike rate of over 103 and an average of over 22, with two half-centuries. Since the last T20 World Cup, he has scored 360 runs in 16 innings at an average of 27.69 and a strike rate of over 120, with three fifties. His presence means Pakistan have not fully relinquished their ‘anchor’ role in T20Is.Haris Rauf is not part of the squad despite taking 31 wickets at an average of over 21, including two four-wicket hauls, in 22 matches since the last T20 World Cup.Pakistan’s total batting average of 129.32 is the third lowest among Test playing nations, behind only Afghanistan (125.27) and Sri Lanka (124.83). The captain’s knock of just over 122 adds to these concerns.Pakistani unitSalman Agha (Captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (Goalkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (Goalkeeper), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Us TarmandabKhan, Us Tarman Khaniq.
