ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top cricketing stars, all set to shine in Australia’s high-voltage Big Bash League (BBL) beginning December 14 with the blockbuster Perth Scorchers–Sydney Sixers opener, will have to return home for a short but crucial national assignment, the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka in early January.
With Babar Azam gearing up for his much-anticipated stint with the Sydney Sixers, and Haris Rauf, Mohammad Rizwan, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Shadab Khan also eyeing the glamorous Australian league, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials have made it clear: national duty comes first.
A senior PCB official, when approached, confirmed the directive. “The Sri Lanka tour was not part of the original itinerary and has only been finalised recently. But every centrally contracted player is bound by agreement to make himself available for Pakistan whenever required. Those selected for the series must travel, its part of their professional commitment,” he said.
Officials believe the logistics have been designed smartly to strike a balance between national duty and franchise cricket. “Players are expected to miss only two to three Big Bash matches. The Sri Lanka trip spans just a week, allowing them to rejoin their BBL sides quickly,” the official added.
Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi and fitness permitting, Shadab Khan are front-runners for Pakistan’s squad to Sri Lanka. The trio is also being considered central to the team’s plans for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, to be held in Sri Lanka and India from February 7.
A member of the selection committee further revealed the philosophy behind arranging the last-minute tour. “Our plan is straightforward: the squad that plays the World Cup will be almost identical to the one playing the Sri Lanka series. The idea is to give the boys match-time in conditions very similar to what they’ll face in the World Cup. We want continuity, rhythm, and clarity,” he said.
Given the proximity between the series and the global showpiece, just twenty days, the selectors are unlikely to tinker with combinations. “All fit players competing in Sri Lanka are likely to be part of the World Cup squad, barring unforeseen issues,” the official added.
For the first time, the ICC has instructed participating nations to submit their 15-member World Cup squads a full month before the event by January 7. Teams will have the liberty to make changes until January 22, after which any alterations will require ICC Technical Committee approval.
Pakistan’s T20I side will fly out in the first week of January, with all three matches scheduled at the scenic Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium (RDICS) on January 7, 9 and 11. The short but vital series will serve as Pakistan’s final dress rehearsal ahead of a demanding World Cup campaign. Pakistan, placed in Group A, will play all their World Cup fixtures in Colombo, giving the team further incentive to adjust quickly to local conditions.
With the Big Bash excitement on one side and World Cup ambitions on the other, Pakistan’s cricket stars are gearing up for a hectic yet defining start to 2026, one that could shape their journey toward restoring global T20 supremacy.
