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LAHORE: Pakistan white-ball head coach Mike Hesson has revealed that conditions played a major role behind Haris Rauf omission from the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 squad.
While addressing the media on the occasion of the team announcement, Hesson revealed that Pakistan’s decision to take only three specialist seamers for World Cup were due to Sri Lanka conditions.
“When we decided to only take three seamers in Sri Lanka, there were obviously going to be some key seamers,” Hesson told reporters.
The head coach furhter elaborated that Haris Rauf was in contention but ultimately missed out due to limited slots.
“Wasim Jr, Ahmed Daniyal and Haris Rauf were certainly considered, but unfortunately there’s no spot. The three that are going — Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Salman Mirza — can all bowl in all three phases of the game, which is really important when you’re potentially going to play two in Sri Lanka,” he explained.
Hesson mentioned the previous editions of the World Cup where conditions allowed an extra seamer, noting that Faheem Ahsraf provides an all-round option incase if a third pacer is required.
“In previous World Cups and previously, we have always taken an extra seamer there because conditions have dictated that, whereas in this situation we haven’t gone down that path,” he stated.
“We have only picked three frontline seamers, with Faheem Ashraf as the all-rounder if we decide to play three, so that was pretty straightforward, and some very good players missed out,” Hesson revealed.
For those unwared, Rauf’s last appearance for Pakistan in T20I cricket came during the Asia Cup final against India on September 28, 2025, a match in which he struggled, conceding 50 runs in 3.4 overs while defending 146.
The performance raised questions about his ability to handle pressure in big moments, and he has not featured in the national T20I team since.
He was also left out of the T20I squads for the away series against Sri Lanka and the upcoming home series against Australia.
Earlier, Pakistan revealed the squad for T20 World Cup 2026 with skipper Salman Ali Agha set to lead the side.
Salman Ali Agha (Captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (WK), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (WK), and Usman Tariq.
READ: Mohsin Naqvi breaks silence on Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 participation
