Pakistan Drops Babar Azam, 4 Stars for Sri Lanka T20s; BBL Commitments Key

• Pakistan announced its T20 squad for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka, starting January 7, 2026.
• Five key players, including Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, and Mohammad Rizwan, were excluded.
• Their exclusion is due to commitments to the Big Bash League (BBL), as PCB assured Cricket Australia of their full availability.
• All-rounder Shadab Khan returns to the squad after shoulder surgery, having played in the BBL for Sydney Thunder.
• Salman Ali Agha will captain the 15-member squad, which includes new face Khawaja Nafay and returning Abdul Samad.

Why It Matters: Pakistan prioritizes BBL commitments for key players, leading to a new-look T20 squad for Sri Lanka.