Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi (Source:X)
Pakistan’s campaign at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 ended in heartbreak despite a 5-run win over the Sri Lanka at the Pallekele Stadium. New Zealand sealed a semifinal berth from Group 2 on the basis of a superior NRR, leaving Pakistan eliminated in the Super 8 stage.
Pakistan finished level on points with New Zealand but were undone by numbers. After a defeat to the England and a rain-abandoned clash against New Zealand earlier in the Super 8s, Pakistan’s NRR had dropped significantly. In contrast, New Zealand’s dominant 61-run win over Sri Lanka had boosted their NRR.
Entering the tournament as one of the favourites, Pakistan's early exit has raised serious questions about the future of several senior players.
With the next T20 World Cup in 2028, the PCB might look to rebuild the team. So, in this article, here is a look at five players who may have played their last T20 World Cup.
Pakistan players who have played their last T20 World Cup
Babar Azam
- Babar Azam has long been considered Pakistan's premier batter, but his T20 World Cup numbers tell a different story. In the 2026 edition, he played four innings and scored 91 runs at an average of 22.75 and a strike rate of 112.35. For a top-order batter expected to anchor and accelerate, those figures fell short of expectations.
- More significantly, Babar was dropped for the must-win clash against Sri Lanka due to concerns over his scoring rate. That decision highlighted the team management’s frustration with his inability to dominate during powerplay overs.
- Looking back at previous tournaments, the pattern continues. In the 2024 T20 World Cup, he scored 122 runs in four innings at an average of 40.67 with a strike rate of 101.67. In the 2022 edition, he managed only 124 runs in seven innings, averaging 17.71 at a strike rate of 93.23.
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- Overall, across 23 T20 World Cup matches, Babar has scored 640 runs at an average of 33.68 and a strike rate of 111.49.
- It is also important to note that reports suggest PCB could reconsider his role in the T20I format, making this potentially his last appearance at a T20 World Cup.
Number of T20 World Cup played - 4
Total runs scored in T20 World Cup - 640
Pakistan's position in 2022, 2024, 2026 - Runners-up, Group Stage, Super 8
Mohammad Nawaz
- Mohammad Nawaz endured a particularly difficult tournament. In 2026, he scored just 15 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 50.00 and an average of 3.00. With the ball, he was slightly better, taking seven wickets in six innings at an economy rate of 7.80 and a strike rate of 17.00.
- In the 2022-23 T20 World Cup, Nawaz scored 68 runs in seven matches at an average of 13.60. He was not even part of the 2024 squad.
- Given his inconsistent performances and Pakistan's need for a reliable all-rounder, this could mark the end of his T20 World Cup journey.
Number of T20 World Cup played - 2
Total runs scored in T20 World Cup - 83
Total wickets taken in T20 World Cup - 10
Pakistan's position in 2022, 2024, 2026 - Runners-up, Group Stage, Super 8
Shaheen Shah Afridi
- Meanwhile, Shaheen Shah Afridi delivered mixed results. In 2026, he picked up eight wickets in five matches but conceded runs at an economy rate of 10.53, unusually high for a strike bowler known for early breakthroughs.
- Compared with his past tournaments, his recent tournaments were stronger. In 2021, he took seven wickets in six matches at an economy rate of 7.04. In 2022-23, he claimed 11 wickets in seven matches at an economy rate of 6.16. In 2024, he took 5 wickets in 4 games at an economy rate of 6.56.
- The sharp rise in the economic rate in 2026 suggests a dip in effectiveness. Additionally, recurring knee injuries have raised concerns about his long-term fitness.
- While still relatively young, workload management and injury history may influence selectors' decisions ahead of future tournaments.
Number of T20 World Cup played - 4
Total wickets taken in T20 World Cup - 31
Pakistan's position in 2022, 2024, 2026 - Runners-up, Group Stage, Super 8
Shadab Khan
- Shadab Khan's recent World Cup performances indicate a decline. In 2026, he took five wickets in seven matches at an economy rate of 8.44. While he contributed 118 runs at a strike rate of 153.25, his role as a wicket-taking leg-spinner was not fulfilled consistently.
- In earlier tournaments, Shadab was more effective. He took nine wickets in the 2021 edition at an economy of 6.00 and followed it with 11 wickets in 2022-23 at 6.35.
- However, he went wicketless in the 2024 World Cup. The downward trend in bowling impact may push selectors to explore younger spin options.
Number of T20 World Cup played - 4
Total runs scored in T20 World Cup - 260
Total wickets taken in T20 World Cup - 25
Pakistan's position in 2022, 2024, 2026 - Runners-up, Group Stage, Super 8
Usman Khan
- Lastly, Usman Khan played across 11 T20I matches in the T20 World Cup; he has scored 80 runs at an average of 11.42 and a strike rate of 117.64. In the 2024 T20 World Cup, he managed just 20 runs in four matches at a strike rate of 90.91.
- Reports indicate that PCB is considering major changes to the T20 setup, focusing on youth and aggressive players who can maintain consistent strike rates, which might also bring an end to Usman Khan’s T20 World Cup journey.
Number of T20 World Cup played - 2
Total runs scored in T20 World Cup - 80
Pakistan's position in 2022, 2024, 2026 - Runners-up, Group Stage, Super 8
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