As Pakistan gears up for the upcoming World Cup, several national cricketers currently playing in Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL) are considering leaving the tournament early to join the team in Sri Lanka. However, any final decision will be taken after discussions between the players and the national selection committee.
At present, a number of Pakistani players are representing various franchises in the BBL. Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg recently stated that Pakistani cricketers would remain available for the full BBL season despite Pakistan’s international commitments. Nonetheless, Pakistan’s national team is scheduled to play a three-match T20 series against Sri Lanka in Dambulla on January 7, 10, and 11, 2026, followed by the T20 World Cup, which will begin on February 7 at venues in Sri Lanka.
Sources say that some Pakistani players have already reached out to the team management and selectors, indicating their willingness to feature in the Sri Lanka series. They believe that the playing conditions and pitches in Australia differ significantly from those in Sri Lanka, and transitioning directly from Australian conditions into a major tournament could negatively impact their performance.
It is important to note that when the players signed their BBL contracts, the Sri Lanka tour had not yet been finalized. The players are also concerned that if they underperform in the World Cup, they could face criticism for choosing league commitments and financial incentives over proper national team preparation.
Meanwhile, selectors are reportedly keen to give opportunities to emerging players, which is why they may hesitate to recall senior cricketers from Australia. Players who return to Pakistan without official approval risk facing heavy financial penalties for breaching their BBL contracts.
However, if the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) formally calls players back for international duty, contractual clauses allow them to return without penalty. A conclusive decision is expected in the coming days following consultations with all stakeholders.
Currently, Pakistani players participating in the BBL include Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Rizwan, Haris Rauf, and Shadab Khan. The tournament is scheduled to conclude on January 25.
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