Pakistan Likely to Drop Either Fakhar Zaman or Babar Azam During T20 World Cup

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha has confirmed that no senior player will be included in the playing XI if they are not fully fit for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 opener against the Netherlands on Saturday at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Agha emphasized that team balance and fielding the strongest possible lineup are the top priorities.

He said that while senior players such as Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman have been crucial to Pakistan’s success, selection decisions will be based strictly on fitness and what is best for the team.

“We have brought 15 players here who form the best possible combination, and we will try to play exactly that,” Agha said. “If any senior player, including Babar or Fakhar, isn’t fit, we won’t play them. We will choose what is best for the team.”

He explained that while experienced players such as Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman have been key contributors for Pakistan over many years, fitness and team needs will guide selection decisions.

“Fakhar has performed a lot for Pakistan over the past 10 years, and Babar has done the same. We fully support them, but we will select the XI that gives us the best chance to win,” he added.

Addressing questions about Usman Tariq’s bowling action, Agha said the team management has full confidence in the player and believes the matter should remain on the field. He further noted that the bowler has already been cleared twice and that the issue has received unnecessary attention.

Agha also voiced concern over press conference discussions shifting away from cricket-related matters. He said such distractions are unhelpful, especially when the team wants full attention on performance. He described Tariq as an X-factor player and emphasized that the focus should remain on the game.

Speaking about Babar Azam, Agha highlighted his importance in the upcoming matches and noted his efforts to improve his game.

“Babar Azam is very important for us in these conditions. He is continuously working on improving his strike rate. Our focus is completely on cricket, and we avoid discussing off-field matters,” he said.

The 32-year-old captain expressed confidence in Pakistan’s preparation, saying the team is not under pressure from earlier matches. He noted that Pakistan has played good cricket over the past six months and is focused on executing its plans match by match.

Agha also confirmed his own batting position, saying he will continue to bat at number three. “I think I’m doing quite well at number three, so there’s no need to change,” he said.

He concluded by acknowledging factors beyond the team’s control but stressed the importance of performance. “We can’t control the weather,” Agha said. “What we can control is our performance. If we win all three matches, we won’t need to worry about net run rate.”