Who Will Be Pakistan’s Wicketkeeper for the 2026 T20 World Cup?

Pakistan faces a challenging decision over its first-choice wicketkeeper for the 2026 T20 World Cup, with Mohammad Rizwan likely unavailable. The team currently lacks a clear, reliable wicketkeeping option for the likely 15-man squad, creating a selection dilemma. Usman Khan has impressed in domestic cricket and earned a place in the national setup, but he has struggled to replicate his match-winning impact at the international level. Khawaja Nafay has shown promise with the bat, yet wicketkeeping is not his primary skill, leaving uncertainty over his readiness for a high-pressure tournament. Sahibzada Farhan is a consistent opening batsman, but his wicketkeeping experience is minimal, having only occasionally kept wickets for Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League when the regular keeper was unavailable.

Mohammad Rizwan remains Pakistan’s safest option behind the stumps, known for his elite wicketkeeping skills. However, his recent T20 batting form has drawn criticism for limited scoring and slow tempo, which may restrict his role in a World Cup lineup with established openers. Mohammad Haris once appeared to be a long-term aggressive keeper-batter solution, but inconsistency and a one-dimensional approach have affected his performance. Haseebullah Khan is seen as a quality batting wicketkeeper with strong List A and T20 records, but he is still developing and may not yet be ready to lead the position at an international level.

Pakistan must weigh the reliability of a proven keeper against the potential of an aggressive or emerging option. A hybrid strategy could involve selecting Rizwan as the primary wicketkeeper while including Haris or Haseebullah as backup keeper-batters in the 15-man squad. This approach would maintain world-class glovework while offering batting flexibility and depth. The team may also consider rotating options based on player form, pitch conditions, and opposition strategy, balancing keeping reliability with aggressive scoring potential to strengthen Pakistan’s prospects at the T20 World Cup.