Khawaja Nafay earns maiden call-up as Pakistan announce squad for T20I tour of Sri Lanka

Right-handed batter Khawaja Nafay has earned his maiden call-up as Pakistan have named a 15-member squad for their three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka. The squad announcement marks the return of Shadab Khan, who is currently plying his trade in the Big Bash League (BBL) for Sydney Thunder. 

Shadab was a part of the three-match T20I series at home against Bangladesh, played in May-June, picking up four wickets and scoring 55 runs as Pakistan registered a clean sweep 3-0.

He underwent surgery on his right shoulder after the completion of the series and returned to professional cricket on December 16, representing Thunder against Hobart Hurricanes at the Bellerive Oval, scoring 34 off 24 balls and finishing with figures of 2/36 in his four overs.

He claimed a four-wicket haul (4/24) in his most recent outing to help Thunder beat Brisbane Heat by 34 runs in the ninth match of the BBL at the Manuka Oval in Canberra.

On the other hand, Nafay has been rewarded for exhibiting promise in the domestic circuit. A household name in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), the 23-year-old has played 32 T20s and accumulated 688 runs at a strike rate of 132.81, including seven fifties.

Pakistan's last opportunity to fine-tune prep for ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026

The three-match series in Sri Lanka is Pakistan's last opportunity to fine-tune their prep ahead of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. The selectors continue to back Salman Ali Agha, who has had a tumultuous time with the willow in hand, but was relieved after winning the recently concluded series against South Africa 2-1 at home.

Notably, both Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi have not been picked for the series as they continue to represent Sydney Sixers and Brisbane Heat in the BBL. The selectors have also not selected Hasan Nawaz, who was a part of the team during the three-match T20I series against the Proteas.

Pakistan's tour of Sri Lanka will begin on January 7 in Dambulla, and the third T20I will be played on January 11. The Rangiri Dambulla International will host all three games.

Meanwhile, Pakistan have been placed in Group A at the T20 World Cup 2026. They are grouped alongside arch-rivals India, Namibia, the USA, and the Netherlands. They'll open their campaign against the Netherlands on February 7 at the SSC in Colombo.

Pakistan's squad for three-match T20I tour of Sri Lanka:

Salman Agha (c), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmad, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk), Usman Tariq