ISLAMABAD – Pakistan fast bower Haris Rauf’s prospects of securing a place in the national squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 have become uncertain despite his impressive performances in the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL) season in Australia.
The Pakistan’s head coach Mike Hesson indicated that Rauf may be excluded from the World Cup lineup.
The possible decision is said to be linked to his disappointing outing in the final of the Asia Cup 2025, where the right-arm pacer conceded 50 runs without taking a wicket, raising concerns among the team management over his effectiveness in high-pressure matches.
High-quality bowling all season long sees Haris Rauf and Gurinder Sandhu finish level with the most wickets for #BBL15 and share the BKT Golden Arm! 👏@BKTtires #GoldenCap pic.twitter.com/w20c0Enhng
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 19, 2026
The development comes as a surprise given Rauf’s recent form in the BBL, where he has emerged as one of the tournament’s leading bowlers. He claimed 18 wickets in 10 matches at an impressive average of 17.11, showcasing his ability to perform consistently against international and domestic players in Australian conditions.
Despite these strong numbers, Rauf’s name was not included in Pakistan’s preliminary 15-member squad submitted to the International Cricket Council (ICC) ahead of the global tournament.
The sources suggested the selection committee is closely evaluating the overall balance of the team including the performance of other fast bowlers and all-rounders, before finalizing the lineup.
The ICC set January 31 as the deadline for all participating teams to announce their final squads for the T20 World Cup 2026.
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