Pakistan Star Duo Join 2026 National T20 Cup

Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam and fast bowler Naseem Shah have been drafted into the Lahore Whites squad for the upcoming National T20 Cup.

The tournament will take place at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium in Peshawar from March 7 to March 18.

The star duo were not included when the initial squads and tournament schedule were announced. However, they have now been added to the team and will play under the captaincy of Aamir Jamal.

Lahore Whites have also strengthened their lineup with the inclusion of Ahmed Daniyal and Mohammad Salman.

The tournament will feature 18 regional teams competing for the title across 23 matches at the Peshawar venue. The stadium previously hosted nine Quaid-e-Azam Trophy matches in October and November 2025.

The ten regional teams participating in the competition are Abbottabad, Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Karachi Whites, Karachi Blues, Lahore Blues, Lahore Whites, Multan, and Sialkot.

The teams have been divided into two groups. Group A includes Lahore Whites, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Karachi Whites, and Bahawalpur.

Group B consists of defending champions Lahore Blues along with Sialkot, Multan, Abbottabad, and Karachi Blues.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals. During the group stage, which runs from March 7 to March 16, two matches will be played each day.

The first match will start at 4:15 pm, followed by the second match at 9:15 pm. The final will begin at 8:00 pm, with the toss scheduled for 7:30 pm.

Aamir Jamal’s Lahore Whites will begin their campaign against the Peshawar region on the opening day of the tournament. Their second group match will be against Faisalabad on March 9.

Lahore Whites Squad for National T20 Cup