Pakistan National Cricket Team: Captains, Squad & Schedule

Pakistan’s cricket team has always kept fans on their toes, but the last few years have brought a particular kind of churn. Babar Azam stepped away from captaincy after the 2023 World Cup, and since then the PCB has handed the white and red balls to three different skippers. It’s a rare setup by international standards, and whether you’re tracking Test matches or just curious who’s leading the squad right now, there’s a lot to untangle. Here’s everything you need to know about the current Pakistan national cricket team, from who’s captaining each format to who’s in the squad and what’s coming up.

Test Captain: Shan Masood ·
ODI Captain: Shaheen Shah Afridi ·
T20I Captain: Salman Ali Agha ·
Head Coach: Sarfaraz Ahmed ·
Governing Body: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)

Key facts about the Pakistan national cricket team span leadership roles, historic achievements, and current team composition.

What is Babar Azam’s salary?

Babar Azam remains Pakistan’s highest-profile cricketer, but exact salary figures are not publicly disclosed through official channels. What is known comes from franchise and domestic contract reporting rather than verified tier-1 sources.

PSL and international earnings

In the Pakistan Super League, Babar Azam commands a base salary that places him among the league’s top earners. His PCB central contract supplements his franchise income, but specific figures vary across reporting years. Babar has consistently been retained at the highest salary bracket in the PSL, with deals ranging significantly based on franchise budgets and negotiating cycles.

Net worth estimates

Various media estimates place Babar Azam’s net worth in the range of several million dollars, accounting for PSL contracts, endorsement deals, and international match fees. These figures circulate in sports media but lack official confirmation from PCB or Babar’s representatives. The gap between reported estimates and verified disclosures means readers should treat net worth figures as approximate.

Who is the best batsman of Pakistan?

Determining Pakistan’s best batsman depends on format, era, and the criteria being applied. By current form and historical records, a few names consistently surface.

Career run leaders in Tests

In Test cricket, Younis Khan holds the record for most career runs for Pakistan with over 10,000 runs. Among active players, Babar Azam leads the run-scoring charts and is the only Pakistani captain to score centuries in all three formats (Wikipedia). His record-setting performances in the 2022-2023 period elevated him to near-consensus top ranking among Pakistani batsmen in contemporary cricket.

Key performers like Babar Azam

Beyond Babar Azam, players like Imam-ul-Haq and Saud Shakeel have built impressive domestic and international records. Imam-ul-Haq has accumulated runs across formats, while Saud Shakeel emerged as a reliable middle-order option in Test and ODI cricket. Fakhar Zaman brings explosive opening batting, particularly effective in limited-overs formats where his aggressive approach has produced match-winning innings.

What is the salary of Shaheen Shah Afridi?

Shaheen Shah Afridi has rapidly become one of Pakistan’s most valuable cricketers, commanding premium salaries both in domestic leagues and through his PCB central contract.

PSL earnings

In the PSL, Shaheen Shah Afridi is retained at the highest tier by his franchise, with reported salaries placing him among the league’s top-paid bowlers. His bounce-and-swing combination makes him a marquee player attraction, and franchises have consistently invested heavily to keep him in their squads. The PCB’s central contract adds a guaranteed base to his earnings, with performance bonuses layered on top.

National contract details

PCB divides central contracts into categories, with senior players like Shaheen Afridi typically placed in the highest bracket. Match fees for internationals add to the package, with Test and T20I appearances each carrying separate fee structures. As of October 2025, Shaheen Shah Afridi assumed captaincy responsibilities for the ODI format, which historically correlates with enhanced contract terms and endorsement considerations.

Why was the NZ vs PAK match cancelled?

Match cancellations between New Zealand and Pakistan have occurred in recent years, typically due to weather-related factors or security concerns that vary by series context.

Rain abandonment details

When rain renders play impossible in cricket, matches can be abandoned entirely if no viable rescheduling window exists. The playing conditions for bilateral series often include reserve days, but series schedules compressed by international calendar congestion sometimes leave no flexibility. In the case of New Zealand vs Pakistan fixtures, weather interruptions have led to washouts where both teams earned equal points rather than a decisive result.

Impact on series

Point splits from abandoned matches affect championship standings and qualification scenarios, particularly in ICC World Cup Super League contexts. For both New Zealand and Pakistan, series cancellations create awkward gaps in preparation schedules and ranking point accumulation. The teams have faced this scenario multiple times across tours, with the PCB and NZC coordinating makeup dates when feasible.

Pakistan national cricket team players now

Pakistan fields different combinations across formats, with the T20I, ODI, and Test setups each featuring distinct player pools reflecting format-specific demands and recent form cycles.

Current T20 squad

Under Salman Ali Agha’s captaincy, the T20I setup features a blend of experience and youth. Key players include Babar Azam (batter), Fakhar Zaman (batter), Haris Rauf (bowler), Shadab Khan (all-rounder), Mohammad Nawaz (all-rounder), and Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper). New faces have rotated in during the 2026 World Cup preparation cycle, with selection prioritizing players suited to high-pressure tournament conditions.

Key batters and all-rounders

Pakistan’s batting depth varies by format. In limited-overs cricket, Imam-ul-Haq provides consistency at the top, while Saim Ayub has shown promise in opening slots. The all-rounder category includes Shadab Khan, whose leg-spin and lower-order hitting add tactical flexibility, and Mohammad Nawaz, who offers left-arm spin and handy middle-order runs. Saud Shakeel has established himself in the middle order across formats, known for building innings rather than quick scoring.

Salman Agha hopes the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup match will be played in the “spirit of cricket” and stated that he did not want to make the handshake a story, instead calling for the game to take centre stage.

Salman Ali Agha, Pakistan T20I Captain (ESPN Cricinfo cricket news)

The Pakistan captain did not disclose whether his side would shake hands with India ahead of their T20 World Cup encounter, but prioritized the competitive contest above off-field narratives.

Pakistan Cricket Board official statement via ESPN Cricinfo (ESPN Cricinfo cricket news)

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With Shan Masood leading Tests and Shaheen Afridi ODIs, Pakistan’s 2025/26 captains and squad gear up for packed tours ahead.

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