Pakistan Cricket Team 2026: Squad, Schedule and Results
The Pakistan cricket team 2026 campaign has been one of the busiest in recent memory, with a packed home season, a World Test Championship series against the reigning champions South Africa, and the fallout of a T20 World Cup that ended in disappointment. As of mid-October 2026, attention has shifted firmly to red-ball cricket, where Pakistan have named an 18-man squad for two home Tests that could shape their WTC 2025-27 fortunes. Here is the complete guide to the Pakistan cricket team 2026 squad, schedule and results so far.
Pakistan Cricket Team 2026 Squad for the South Africa Tests
The Pakistan Cricket Board announced an 18-member squad for the two-Test series against South Africa, which opens in Lahore on 12 October 2026. Shan Masood continues as captain, while the selectors made bold calls with three uncapped players: 37-year-old left-arm spinner Asif Afridi, wrist-spinner Faisal Akram and wicketkeeper-batter Rohail Nazir.
Full squad: Shan Masood (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Asif Afridi, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi. The most notable selection news is the return of Shaheen Shah Afridi, who missed Pakistan’s most recent Test series against the West Indies earlier in the year. There is no place for Naseem Shah, while five spin options — Abrar Ahmed, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Asif Afridi and Faisal Akram — signal that Pakistan expect slow, turning pitches in Lahore and Rawalpindi. The squad will be trimmed before the first Test under red-ball head coach Azhar Mahmood.
Home Fixtures: South Africa Tour and Beyond
The home season gives Pakistan’s 2026 campaign a stern examination. South Africa, the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 winners, arrived as favourites with a potent pace attack led by Temba Bavuma’s side. The schedule:
- First Test: 12-16 October, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
- Second Test: 20-24 October, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
- Three T20Is and three ODIs against South Africa from 28 October to 8 November, across Rawalpindi, Lahore and Faisalabad (white-ball squad to be named)
- Two Tests against Sri Lanka in November counting towards the WTC 2025-27
Pakistan’s record at home has been built on spin-friendly surfaces, and the selection of five spinners shows the team management intend to lean into that strength against the Proteas’ formidable lineup.
Results Review: The 2026 Season So Far
The year began with the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, where Pakistan’s campaign ended in the Super 8 stage — a rain-ruined finish that frustrated fans. Earlier, the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 (played in September-October 2025 but shaping this season’s storylines) saw Pakistan lose all three matches to India, including the final on 28 September, a sequence that cost several senior players their places. Since then, the national selectors have rebuilt with a mix of experience and youth: Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan remain central, while players like Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan and Hassan Nawaz have pushed their cases in white-ball cricket.
In Test cricket, Pakistan’s most recent outing before the South Africa series included a drawn series against Australia and the 2-0 home series win over South Africa back in 2021 that fans still remember fondly. The current WTC cycle is Pakistan’s first real chance to push for a final spot, but it requires home dominance — starting with these two Tests.
World Test Championship Picture for the Pakistan Cricket Team in 2026
The two Tests against South Africa and the subsequent home Tests against Sri Lanka are part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27. Pakistan began the cycle under pressure after a mixed start, and every home point is precious against the WTC holders. Shan Masood’s leadership is under scrutiny, and a series win over South Africa would transform the Pakistan cricket team 2026 narrative from rebuilding to contending.
For a deeper look at Pakistan’s head-to-head history with the visitors, read our Pakistan vs South Africa series guide, and for the wider white-ball context see T20 World Cup 2026 review and the evergreen Pakistan cricket team overview.
FAQs
Who is the captain of the Pakistan cricket team in 2026?
Shan Masood captains the Test side, Salman Ali Agha leads the T20I team, and Shaheen Shah Afridi was named ODI captain.
When does Pakistan play South Africa in the 2026 Test series?
The first Test is 12-16 October at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, and the second Test is 20-24 October at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Who are the new faces in Pakistan’s Test squad for South Africa?
Asif Afridi, Faisal Akram and Rohail Nazir were named as uncapped players in the 18-man squad for the South Africa Tests.
How did Pakistan do at the T20 World Cup 2026?
Pakistan’s campaign ended in the Super 8 stage, with a washout proving costly.
Where does Pakistan stand in the WTC 2025-27?
Pakistan need strong home results against South Africa and Sri Lanka to stay in contention for the final.
External sources: ICC on Pakistan hosting South Africa and CricketWorld on the 18-man Test squad.
Pakistan Cricket Team 2026: Fixtures and Squad Tracker
The pakistan cricket team 2026 calendar is packed with bilateral series and ICC events. The pakistan cricket team schedule 2026 covers Tests, ODIs, and T20Is across home and away tours, while the pakistan cricket squad 2026 evolves with form and fitness throughout the year.
How to follow the fixtures
Bookmark the pakistan cricket fixtures 2026 list to plan your viewing, noting that day-night matches and weekend games draw the biggest audiences. Series timings in PKT are published once confirmed, and travelling supporters should arrange tickets through official board channels.
Tracking results and squad changes
Follow pakistan team results 2026 to track the team’s progress through a defining year, from World Test Championship points to white-ball rankings. Squad rotations are normal across formats, so the pakistan cricket team 2026 combinations will keep evolving as selectors balance experience with emerging talent.
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