Pakistan’s all-rounder Shadab Khan could yet make a return to the national side ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup, skipper Salman Ali Agha suggested on Saturday. Shadab last featured in June during the T20I series against Bangladesh before an injury sidelined him.
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Since his absence, Mohammad Nawaz has emerged as Pakistan’s main all-rounder, making a significant impact with both bat and ball over the past six months. Nawaz played a crucial role as Pakistan won a tri-series in the UAE and later reached the Asia Cup final. On Saturday, Pakistan clinched another tri-series at home by defeating Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi, with Nawaz taking three wickets to turn the match decisively.
Alongside Nawaz, opener Saim Ayub has established himself as a key spin option, while Abrar Ahmed and Usman Tariq have proven their worth as specialist spinners. Despite the growing spin options, Salman did not rule out Shadab’s return when Pakistan tours Sri Lanka, co-host of the T20 World Cup along with India, in February.
“He was the team’s vice-captain when he got injured,” Salman said. “And when you have a player with World Cup experience who can bat at number 5-6 and offer a spin option—if he fits, why not?”
The depth in Pakistan’s spin department has been a defining factor in the team’s white-ball resurgence. With Saim providing breakthroughs in the powerplay and Abrar and Usman offering variety in the middle overs, the management is confident in tailoring combinations to suit Sri Lankan conditions, where spin is expected to dominate.
“If conditions allow us to play two or more specialist spinners, we won’t hesitate,” Salman added. “We have Nawaz, Saim, Abrar, and Usman—four very different options. Our job is to field the combination that gives Pakistan the best chance.”
Regarding batting, Salman acknowledged that Sri Lankan pitches may not favor ultra-high totals typical of T20 cricket elsewhere. “For chasing beyond 200, conditions have to allow it. In Sri Lanka, such totals aren’t common. But if the surface demands it, we can score and chase big totals. The players have shown that over the past months.”
Reflecting on Pakistan’s progress this year, Salman noted that the team had recovered well from a shaky start in January. “Our start wasn’t good, but we finished the year strongly. In the last two or three months, we’ve won almost all our white-ball series. The challenge now is to carry this momentum into 2026 and aim for a memorable World Cup.”
With different captains across formats, Salman admitted the added responsibility of leading Pakistan. “There’s always pressure when captaining Pakistan. At first, balancing batting and captaincy was challenging, but over the last five or six months, I’ve learned to manage both. I feel far more settled now.”
Pakistan’s focus is now on maintaining consistency, utilizing their spin depth, and potentially reintegrating Shadab Khan, ensuring the team heads into the T20 World Cup with multiple options and a strong, adaptable squad.
