The Pakistan Super League 2026 has suffered another setback because an experienced overseas player withdrew from the tournament. The defending champions Lahore Qalandars announced on February 2 that Namibia all-rounder David Wiese will not take part in the upcoming season because of personal commitments.

Wiese has been a central figure in Lahore Qalandars’ journey over the years because he has been associated with the franchise since 2019. The veteran all-rounder played a key role in the team’s most successful period which saw him win the PSL trophy three times in 2022 2023 and 2025.

David Wiese withdraws from PSL 2026

Wiese announced his news through social media when he explained that he withdrew because of unexpected events and vital family obligations. The 40-year-old player who has an emotional connection with the Qalandars told fans that he intends to come back to the team next year. He also confirmed that he would remain a supporter of the team while watching PSL 2026 from a distance.

The Lahore Qalandars management fully supported Wiese’s choice. Sameen Rana the franchise owner recognized Wiese’s extended service to the team because he helped develop younger athletes while competing on the field.

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Gutted to be missing out on the PSL this year due to some family commitments. Will really miss being with my LQ family, but will continue cheering them on from home.

This isn’t a permanent goodbye to PSL though! I’ll be back.#QalandarDilSe pic.twitter.com/6QYsWUVx1d

— David Wiese (@David_Wiese) February 2, 2026

ALSO SEE: Know qualification scenario for Pakistan after boycotting IND-PAK T20 World Cup 2026 game

International players keep withdrawing from the PSL 2026 competition

Wiese's withdrawal from the competition marks another addition to the increasing roster of absent international players for this season. England batter Harry Brook recently withdrew from the tournament, while former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis was ruled out after suffering a thumb ligament injury during SA20 2026. Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has also reportedly pulled out, choosing to prioritise fitness ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

A look at Wiese’s PSL legacy

Wiese’s absence will be a significant blow for Lahore. He played 54 PSL matches for the Qalandars where he scored 629 runs with a strike rate of 161.69 and took 38 wickets. He first appeared in PSL matches with Karachi Kings during 2018 before establishing himself as a key player for Lahore's championship-winning teams. The Lahore Qalandars must now adjust their overseas player strategy because PSL 2026 approaches and they lost one of their key players.

The Pakistan cricket team has officially boycotted its Group A match against the India cricket team in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, following direct instructions from the Pakistan government. The decision was confirmed on February 1 amid escalating geo-political tensions between the two nations.

The move was taken in coordination with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and is also understood to be a show of solidarity with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) after Bangladesh’s exclusion from the tournament. The boycott will force Pakistan to compete under more difficult conditions because Pakistan needs to win two matches in order to qualify for the next stage.

Pakistan to forfeit points after India boycott

Pakistan will lose two important Group A points because they chose not to play India. The group has five teams which will compete through four matches and only the two top-performing teams will advance to the Super Eight stage. Pakistan must win all their upcoming matches because the boycott gives them no room for mistakes.

How Pakistan can still qualify for the Super Eight

Pakistan needs favorable results to achieve their advancement despite facing their current challenge. The qualification scenario is straightforward but unforgiving:

ALSO SEE: PCB announces Pakistan Shaheens squad for white-ball series against England Lions

• Pakistan’s maximum possible points: 6
• Pakistan must win all remaining three matches
• Any defeat will almost certainly end Super Eight hopes
• The Net Run Rate will determine results when teams reach equal standings

Pakistan will likely win against Namibia while both Netherlands and USA present real difficulties. The USA which defeated Pakistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup makes this match particularly important for both teams.

Led by Salman Agha, Pakistan now head into the tournament knowing that one slip-up could end their campaign early. The 'Men in Green' will determine their response to early elimination at the point it occurs.

Pakistan’s Group A schedule

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a 16-member Pakistan Shaheens squad for the upcoming T20 and 50-over series against England Lions in Abu Dhabi. The tour will consist of a three-match T20 series starting on February 20, followed by a five-match 50-over series scheduled from February 27 to March 9. All matches will be played at the Stadium Oval in Abu Dhabi.

As part of their preparations, the Pakistan Shaheens players will take part in a seven-day training camp in Karachi from February 11 to 17 before travelling to the United Arab Emirates. The series is seen as a crucial opportunity for Pakistan’s emerging players to gain exposure in overseas conditions and push their case for higher honours.

Shamyl Hussain to lead young Pakistan Shaheens squad with strong support staff

Left-handed batter Shamyl Hussain has been appointed captain for both formats. He will lead a promising batting group that includes Abdul Samad, Hasan Nawaz, ACC Men’s Asia Cup Rising Stars Player of the Tournament Maaz Sadaqat, and left-hander Saad Khan. Pakistan Under-19 batter Sameer Minhas has also earned selection for both series, alongside his brother Arafat Minhas, reflecting the PCB’s focus on rewarding strong youth-level performances.

ALSO SEE: Babar Azam overtakes Virat Kohli in major T20I record ahead of 2026 T20 World Cup

Rohail Nazir and Saad Baig will share wicketkeeping duties, adding flexibility to the squad. The spin department features Arafat Minhas, leg-spinner Saad Masood, and left-arm wrist spinner Sufyan Moqim, offering a variety of options in the middle overs. The pace attack will be led by Pakistan Under-19 fast bowler Ali Raza, supported by Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed, Mohammad Salman, and Shahid Aziz.

Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed will serve as mentor and team manager on the tour. The coaching setup will be headed by former Test cricketer Ijaz Ahmed Jnr, with Mansoor Amjad as fielding coach and former Test pacer Aizaz Cheema overseeing the bowling unit.

Series schedule (All matches at Stadium Oval, Abu Dhabi)

Pakistan Shaheens squad

Shamyl Hussain (captain), Abdul Samad, Arafat Minhas, Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Hasan Nawaz, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Salman, Rohail Nazir (wk), Saad Baig (wk), Saad Khan, Saad Masood, Sameer Minhas, Shahid Aziz, Sufyan Moqim

Player support personnel

Sarfaraz Ahmed (mentor & team manager), Ijaz Ahmed Jnr (head coach), Mansoor Amjad (fielding coach), Aizaz Cheema (bowling coach), Mohammad Tahir (physiotherapist), Usman Hashmi (performance analyst)

The Pakistan national cricket team star batter Babar Azam established a new T20I record on Sunday by surpassing Virat Kohli to become the player with the most T20I half-centuries. The landmark achievement occurred when Pakistan completed their 3–0 series victory against Australia by winning the final match in Lahore which strengthened their confidence before the T20 World Cup.

Babar Azam’s milestone knock powers Pakistan to dominant series sweep

Babar Azam scored an unbeaten 50 during the third T20I match which established Pakistan's dominant batting performance and brought his total T20I half-centuries to 39 which made him the all-time player with most half-centuries in the format. His batting performance helped the team establish momentum after losing their first wickets by building a strong foundation which led to their successful conclusion. Pakistan finished their innings with a total of 207 runs for 6 wickets which proved to be an unreachable target for Australia.

The match itself turned into a one-sided affair. The Australian team lost its batting rhythm when Shaheen Shah Afridi took his first wicket and then Mohammad Nawaz destroyed their batting order by achieving his best T20I performance of 5 wickets for 18 runs. Pakistan achieved a decisive 111-run victory over Australia when they dismissed the visiting team for 96 runs in their third T20I series which marked the third time Pakistan had achieved a clean sweep against Australia in T20I matches after their previous successes in 2010 and 2018.

ALSO SEE: Former RCB star to be named Afghanistan's mentor for T20 World Cup 2026

Babar explained during the post-game interview that players need to understand how to read pitch conditions because this skill helps them execute match plans better than achieving personal records. He praised Saim Ayub for his aggressive batting style at the beginning of the innings and he thanked the Lahore audience for their continuous support throughout the entire match series.

Most half-centuries in T20I cricket

Ayub started the match with an impressive 56 runs from 37 balls while Shadab Khan scored 46 runs from 19 balls during his late batting attack to help Pakistan reach their final overs as they achieved 70 runs in their last five overs. The Australian team accepted their complete defeat after the captain Salman Ali Agha described the series as nearly perfect. 

Pakistan received its best possible timing for their emphatic series victory which included Babar's record-setting performance because the T20 World Cup will start on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka.

Pakistan will participate in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 but will not compete against India during their February 15 scheduled match. The tournament will take place between February 7 and March 8, 2023, with games scheduled to be played throughout India and Sri Lanka.

Approval granted with a major condition 

The Government of Pakistan announced its decision through a statement posted on X, which confirmed that the Pakistan Cricket Board received permission to participate in the event. The statement made it clear that Pakistan will not take the field for the India clash.

The statement declared that "The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan grants approval to the Pakistan Cricket Team to participate in the ICC World T20 2026; however, the Pakistan Cricket Team shall not take the field in the match scheduled on 15 February 2026 against India." The Group A fixture between India and Pakistan was originally scheduled to be played in Colombo after the International Cricket Council shifted Pakistan’s matches to Sri Lanka. Pakistan refused to play its fixtures in India because of ongoing political tensions between the two nations.

#ICCT20WORLDCUP | Pakistan will not play the match against India on February 15th, tweets Government of Pakistan pic.twitter.com/4dUN9Xi1EE

— ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2026

ALSO SEE: Sarfaraz Ahmed caught red-handed for breaking ICC rule during IND vs PAK U19 World Cup 2026 match

Why Pakistan decided to boycott the India clash

The situation escalated when Bangladesh requested to move its matches from India because of security concerns. Bangladesh withdrew from the tournament after ICC denied its request which resulted in Scotland being selected as a replacement team. Pakistan backed Bangladesh's position during an ICC Board meeting yet the country threatened to boycott the entire tournament to support Bangladesh. 

Pakistan interior minister Mohsin Naqvi and PCB chairman conducted talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif about the matter which created uncertainty regarding Pakistan's upcoming match. The government has decided to implement a partial boycott instead of fully withdrawing from the situation.

The current agreement between the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the PCB requires India and Pakistan to compete at ICC events only in neutral locations. The 2026 T20 World Cup will become a major discussion topic because Pakistan will fulfill its participation obligation yet no India-Pakistan match will occur.

Ricky Ponting who used to captain Australia has created a discussion through his direct comments about Pakistan's reported plans to boycott the 2026 T20 World Cup. The tournament buildup period should focus on team selection and player performance and weather conditions but off-field distractions have become the main issue because Ponting believes people are exaggerating the situation.

Ponting expressed his viewpoint by stating, "Pakistan uses the boycott excuse to hide their fear of losing to India. The team understands their actual performance will result in a defeat against India. The team uses this situation to create a fake dismissal of their current situation." The statement received intense public responses because the two teams share a historical rivalry that always gets affected by their political disputes.

Ponting made his statements after Pakistan reached a decision about their upcoming tournament participation which includes their match against India. The current situation remains unclear because officials have not confirmed the information yet but India-Pakistan matches create commercial value which results in scheduling conflicts and logistical problems for all worldwide cricket events.

ALSO SEE: "We all..."- Salman Ali Agha puts special Instagram story for IND vs PAK U19 World Cup 2026

India–Pakistan rivalry back in focus ahead of 2026 T20 World Cup

The cricketing evaluation of Ponting's argument depends on his evaluation of recent player performances. Pakistan has lost to India in all ICC World Cup tournaments since 2010 because India's T20 World Cup success shows their superior ability to win matches through their complete player roster. Ponting believes that competitive pressure acts as a driving force which affects how people describe events.

Pakistan supporters along with former players have protested against this viewpoint because they believe that cricketing rivalries should exist without being reduced to fear or avoidance. The group maintains that Pakistan has always performed well during significant events while political and administrative problems should not interfere with their confidence on the field. 

The ICC will partner with every cricket board to maintain tournament operations according to current requirements. The current situation between Pakistan and Ponting keeps the cricket world focused on an important yet delicate rivalry which exists between two Indian cricket teams.

Pakistan will face Australia in the third and final T20I of the three-match series on Sunday, February 1, at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The hosts have already sealed the series with a dominant 2-0 lead. Pakistan outplayed Australia in the opening two encounters, registering a 22-run win in the first match before securing a comprehensive 90-run victory in the second, leaving the visitors with no chance of a comeback in the series.

Riding high on confidence, Pakistan will be keen to complete a clean sweep and build momentum ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026. Australia, meanwhile, are treating the series as an opportunity to experiment with combinations and fine-tune their squad. The visitors will aim to end the tour on a positive note by winning the final match, hoping to carry some momentum into the global tournament.

See Also: Watch: “Ninth-ranked Pakistan…”- Former Pakistan skipper reacts to Babar Azam’s constant failures ahead of T20 World Cup 2026

PAK vs AUS, 3rd T20I: Live Streaming Details

PAK vs AUS, 3rd T20I: Probable Playing XI

Pakistan (PAK):

Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (C), Babar Azam, Usman Khan (WK), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Naseem Shah, Usman Tariq, Abrar Ahmed

Australia (AUS):

Matthew Short, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (C), Cameron Green, Josh Inglis (WK), Matt Renshaw, Cooper Connolly, Xavier Bartlett, Sean Abbott, Matthew Kuhnemann, Adam Zampa

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has out of nowhere cancelled the kit launch for the Pakistan National Cricket Team's ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 (which was slated to take place throughout the current T20I series with Australia). The planned launch was to take place during the T20I series with Australia and also intended to promote the national team's participation in the T20 World Cup. The PCB's recent decision to call off this event on short notice and due to "unavoidable circumstances" has brought up numerous questions about Pakistan's participation at the T20 World Cup as well as created speculation regarding the team's involvement in the World Event. 

Initially, the PCB had planned to unveil the team colours of the T20 World Cup at the conclusion of the second T20I match between Australia and Pakistan on December 29, 2023. Final arrangements were made prior to that time to ensure maximum visibility for the launch during the Australia-Pakistan T20I series. Just prior to that scheduled time, the PCB abruptly decided to postpone the launch of the new kit. No formal statement announcing the reasons behind this event have been made, which left many fans and observers of the game surprised and pondering the recent occurrences and their implications.

The Pakistan Cricket Board hasn’t provided any additional detail and has publicly attributed the cancellation to logistical problems. However, sources indicate that other reasons beyond those mentioned may also be driving the cancellation. The sources report that the reason for the cancellation is tied to the fact that the Pakistan Foreign Office has not provided the necessary formal clearance for Pakistan’s cricket team to participate in the T20 World Cup 2026, thus there continues to be uncertainty regarding Pakistan’s participation. The cancelled kit launch reflects that.

See Also: Watch: India football's goal-keeper mocks Pakistan cricket team during practice session in viral video

Pakistan will be playing all their games in Sri Lanka

Consequently, until the Foreign Office has officially communicated a decision, the future of Pakistan’s participation in the T20 World Cup 2026 continues to be a matter of speculation due to the combination of continued diplomatic issues along with administrative issues. The Pakistan Cricket Board continues to state that they will proceed per Government of Pakistan direction from the Foreign Office, at which time a final decision is anticipated to be made on Monday. Following Bangladesh’s withdrawal from the T20 World Cup 2026 tournament as a result of not receiving permission from the ICC to relocate their participating venues outside of India, the Pakistan Cricket Board’s uncertainty appears to be increasing, and they will continue to wait and see while they conduct an internal review of all possible options.

PCB has announced that the Pakistan national team is confirmed to fly to Colombo on the 2nd of February, where they will play all their matches during the ICC World Cup 2011, including the final should they qualify. All games between India and Pakistan during this period will be held at neutral venues (as part of an ICC agreement) until 2027. Although the PCB has stated it is supportive of Bangladesh's security issues, officials are cautious about doing anything which may affect Pakistan's position in the ICC, particularly since there are no logistical impediments to him participating.

Pakistan and Australia will meet again in the second T20I of the three-match series at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Saturday, January 31. Riding high on confidence, Pakistan will look to build on their impressive showing in the series opener, while Australia aim to respond strongly and keep the contest alive. With both sides eager to assert dominance, the clash promises another competitive encounter under familiar conditions in Lahore.

In the first T20I, Pakistan ended a long wait for success against Australia in the shortest format, registering a 22-run victory at the same venue. After choosing to bat first, the hosts posted 168/8. Australia began well but lost momentum as spinners took control. Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Abrar Ahmed, and Mohammad Nawaz exploited the turning pitch to derail the chase.

See Also: Watch: Suryakumar Yadav’s special welcome to Sanju Samson in Thiruvattanampudam ahead of IND vs NZ 5th T20I goes viral  

PAK vs AUS, 2nd T20I: Live Streaming Details

PAK vs AUS, 2nd T20I: Probable Playing XI

Pakistan (PAK):

Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Agha (C), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan (WK), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Salman Mirza, Abrar Ahmed.

Australia (AUS):

Matthew Short, Travis Head (C), Cameron Green, Matt Renshaw, Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Owen, Josh Phillipe (WK), Jack Edwards, Xavier Bartlett, Adam Zampa, Mahli Beardman.

Pakistan and Australia will clash in the first T20I of their three-match series at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday, January 29. Pakistan recently toured Sri Lanka for a three-match series against Dasun Shanaka’s side, which ended in a 1-1 draw after the second match was abandoned due to rain. The home side will be eager to start their series strongly, building on lessons from Sri Lanka, while relying on key players in both batting and bowling to gain an early advantage in the tightly contested T20I series.

Australia, meanwhile, arrives fresh off an exciting Big Bash League season, where Perth Scorchers claimed the title by defeating Sydney Sixers. Boasting a formidable squad of T20 specialists, the Australians will enter the Lahore series as favourites. However, Pakistan’s home advantage, familiarity with local conditions, and experienced players make them a dangerous opponent. Both sides will aim to set the tone early, with the first T20I expected to be a high-intensity clash full of big-hitting and tactical bowling battles.

See Also: 3 Indian players from 2024 T20 World Cup missing in India’s 2026 squad

PAK vs AUS, 1st T20I: Live Streaming Details

PAK vs AUS, 1st T20I: Probable Playing XI

Pakistan (PAK):

Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan (WK), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Ali Agha (C), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed

Australia (AUS):

Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (C), Cameron Green, Josh Inglis (WK), Marcus Stoinis, Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Owen, Xavier Bartlett, Matt Kuhnemann, Adam Zampa, Ben Dwarshuis