Jan 20, 2026: Fast bowler Haris Rauf is likely to be excluded from Pakistan’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad, sources close to the team’s selection committee and coaching staff said on Tuesday.

According to reports, Pakistan’s head coach Mike Hesson and the national selectors are not inclined to include Rauf in the final 15-member squad for the global tournament, which is scheduled to begin on February 7, 2026 in India and Sri Lanka. The development suggests a shift in selection strategy by the management, with a focus on recent form and continuity in white-ball performances.

Sources said Rauf’s absence from Pakistan’s T20 side since the conclusion of the 2025 Asia Cup has raised concerns over his current form and match readiness. The pacer has not featured in recent international T20 fixtures, and selectors are reportedly considering younger fast-bowling options who have been part of recent T20 series and training camps.

The 94-cap fast bowler, one of Pakistan’s premier white-ball speedsters in recent years, is currently playing in Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL) 2025-26 for the Melbourne Stars, where he has taken 18 wickets in 10 matches with an average of 17.06 and an economy rate of 7.94. However, performance in franchise leagues is understood not to be a decisive factor in the selectors’ current considerations.

Despite his strong franchise form, insiders say the decision is also influenced by workload management and team balance considerations ahead of the T20 World Cup, where Pakistan’s bowling attack needs to adapt to diverse playing conditions. There has been no official confirmation from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as yet regarding Rauf’s exclusion, with the final squad expected to be announced ahead of the ICC deadline.

Cricket analysts have noted that Rauf’s experience has previously bolstered Pakistan’s death bowling unit, but selectors appear to be placing a higher premium on recent international involvement and sustained match fitness. The final squad announcement, due by January 31, 2026, will provide clarity on Pakistan’s plans for bowling combinations in the T20 World Cup.