Muhammad Rizwan, Haris Rauf Dropped as Pakistan Announce T20 World Cup Squad Amid Exit Speculation, ICC Ultimatum

Alfaaz – The Words Desk

Srinagar: Pakistan on Sunday announced a 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, springing major surprises by leaving out senior wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan and frontline fast bowler Haris Rauf, even as uncertainty continues to cloud the team’s participation in the marquee event.

All-rounder Salman Ali Agha has been named captain of the squad that features Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper) and Usman Tariq.

The exclusion of Rizwan, a long-standing pillar of Pakistan’s T20 setup, has raised eyebrows across the cricketing fraternity. Equally notable is the omission of Haris Rauf, who is currently among the leading wicket-takers in the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL), making his absence particularly striking.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s participation in the T20 World Cup remains uncertain. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has stated that the final call on participation will depend on a decision by the Shehbaz Sharif-led Government.

The situation has gained momentum following Bangladesh’s reported decision not to play in the tournament over alleged security concerns. The developments came in the wake of the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) decision to have Shah Rukh Khan-owned Kolkata Knight Riders leave out Bangladesh’s sole IPL player, Mustafizur Rahman, from the upcoming IPL season. After weeks of deliberations, the ICC formally replaced Scotland with Bangladesh in the tournament line-up.

Meanwhile, adding to the ongoing developments, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has reportedly issued a stern warning to Pakistan over its alleged threat to withdraw from the World Cup in solidarity with Bangladesh.

According to reports, the ICC has cautioned the PCB against taking a confrontational stance, warning of complete cricketing isolation if Pakistan pulls out of the tournament. The global body is said to be unhappy with Mohsin Naqvi’s public criticism of the ICC, where he accused it of “double standards” over scheduling and venue arrangements for Bangladesh’s matches in India. Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister, had sought relocation of Bangladesh’s fixtures, citing the earlier adoption of a hybrid model for Pakistan matches.

The ICC views emerging solidarity understanding between the PCB and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) as a direct challenge to its authority ahead of the marquee event.

Reports said that if Pakistan follows through on its withdrawal threat, the ICC is prepared to impose stringent sanctions. These may include suspension of bilateral series, exclusion from the Asia Cup, and a coordinated “No Objection Certificate (NOC)” embargo among member boards, effectively preventing overseas players from featuring in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).