Pakistan have managed to qualify for the 2026 T20 World Cup despite their dismal showing in the 2024 tournament, according to the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Pakistan, the 2009 champions and runners-up in 2007 and 2022, made a swift exit after losing their first two matches from winnable positions.A stunning super-over humiliation at the hands of the United States was followed by a six-run loss to bitter rivals India in a game where they failed to chase down a paltry 120-run target.
Subsequently, after rain distributed equal points in the match between Ireland and the USA, Pakistan were indirectly knocked out of a T20 World Cup tournament’s group stages for the first time in their history.
Amid sub-par performances at the tournament, talk of rifts within the camp surfaced, while Pakistan Cricket Board’s chief promised “major surgery” on the team after their exit was confirmed last week.Today, the ICC turned its sight to the next edition of the tournament and said Sri Lanka and India take the first two spots for 2026.
“From there, the next 10 spots were determined by Super Eight qualifiers at the 2024 edition, and ICC Men’s T20I Team Rankings at the 30 June cut-off date,” it said.The ICC said Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa and the West Indies all secured their spots due to their “strong first round play and entry to the Super Eights”, along with the US.
“Despite missing out on the Super Eights, Babar Azam’s men meanwhile secured their place at the next edition thanks to their T20I ranking (7th), alongside New Zealand (6th) and Ireland (11th),” the ICC added, rounding out those qualified.
It concluded that the final eight teams for the 2026 edition will be decided by regional qualifiers with the number of qualification spots per region to be confirmed.
Meanwhile, Nida Dar will lead Pakistan in the upcoming women’s T20 Asia Cup, which will be held in Dambulla, Sri Lanka from July 19-28, the country’s cricket board said on Sunday while also announcing the national squad following a four-day camp.
“Ayesha Zafar, Natalia Parvaiz, Rameen Shamim, Sadaf Shamas, Umm-e-Hani and Waheeda Akhtar, who were part of the 17-member squad that toured England last month, have been left out,” said the Pakistan Cricket Board.
“Instead, the selectors have named Iram Javed, Omaima Sohail, Syeda Aroob Shah and Tasmia Rubab.”Iram’s last played a Twenty20 International in October last year. Omaima, meanwhile, last featured in the format in December. Aroob’s seventh and last appearance in a T20I was in Karachi against South Africa in September 2023.
Tasmia, the 22-year-old left-arm fast bowler, is the only uncapped player in the side. She played for Pakistan A against West Indies A and Thailand in November 2023.
Representing Multan in the recently held National Women’s One-Day Tournament, Tasmia scored 86 runs and took 12 wickets. Tasmia also took four wickets at an economy-rate of 6.36 in the National Women’s T20 Tournament.
The selected players will undergo a preparatory training camp ahead of the tournament here from July 5 before departing for Sri Lanka on July 16.Head coach Muhammad Wasim will supervise the camp and will be supported by Abdur Rehman (spin bowling coach), Junaid Khan (assistant coach – bowling) and Hanif Malik (assistant coach – fielding).
Pakistan are placed in Group ‘A’ along with India, Nepal and UAE, while Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Thailand and Malaysia are in Group ‘B’. The top two teams from each group will play in the semi-finals on July 26.Pakistan will take on India on the opening day of the tournament on July 19, while their matches against Nepal and UAE will be played on July 21 and 23.
