With the 2026 T20 World Cup right around the corner, Pakistan’s preparations come with a familiar selection headache: who should be the first-choice wicketkeeper?
With the experienced Mohammad Rizwan likely out of the picture, Pakistan has no legitimate wicketkeeper in their likely 15-man squad for the T20 World Cup.
Here are the some of the choices for wicketkeeper available for Pakistan
Usman Khan
The 30-year-old has forced his way into the national setup on the back of strong domestic performances and clear improvement as a cricketer. However, his transition hasn’t been seamless. While he has shown promise, he hasn’t consistently produced the same match-winning impact at the international level that he displayed in local competitions. That gap between domestic output and international delivery remains the main concern.
Khawaja Nafay
The young cricketer has impressed many with his batting talent and temperament. The problem is that wicketkeeping isn’t his primary skill, he has only filled in as a makeshift option. While few doubt his ability with the bat, the bigger question is readiness: he hasn’t played enough top-level cricket to remove the uncertainty around his selection, particularly for a high-pressure event like a World Cup.
Sahibzada Farhan
While his place in the Playing XI is secure as a hard-hitting opening batsman with Saim Ayub, Farhan has little to no experience as a wicketkeeper. He has rarely been seen behind the stumps, occasionally once for Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). And that too was out of necessity as United’s regular keeper Azam Khan was unavailable.
Mohammad Rizwan
When it comes to wicketkeeping skills alone, Rizwan is widely regarded as Pakistan’s safest option. His work behind the stumps is top-tier. The issue, though, is his batting, particularly his recent form in T20 cricket, where he has faced criticism for limited scoring options and a tempo that can stall innings.
With the opening role increasingly locked, Rizwan’s fit in the XI becomes more complicated, especially as opposition teams appear to have mapped out plans for him.
Mohammad Haris
Haris once looked like the long-term answer, especially after the T20 World Cup 2022, when Pakistan finally seemed to have found an aggressive wicketkeeper-batter. But over time, his game has appeared one-dimensional, often relying on all-out attack, which hasn’t consistently paid off. He has been tried across positions, top order, middle order, even late-innings roles, but the results haven’t stabilized. Some argue he hasn’t been given a settled role long enough to succeed; others believe his limitations are now exposed.
Haseebullah Khan
Haseebullah is viewed as a quality batting wicketkeeper with an encouraging record in List A and T20 cricket. However, he is still early in his development and is working towards becoming a complete T20 package. The potential is obvious, but whether he is ready to be Pakistan’s go-to keeper for a global tournament is still an open question.
So, Who Should Pakistan Pick?
Right now, Pakistan doesn’t have a clear “no-brainer” wicketkeeper for the 2026 T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka and India. What’s your take? Should Pakistan back the safest keeper, the most aggressive batter, or invest in a developing option?
