The BPL is scheduled from December 26 to January 23, which directly overlaps with Pakistan’s international fixtures and final preparations for the T20 World Cup 2026.
Pakistan will play three T20Is against Sri Lanka on January 7, 9, and 11 in Dambulla, followed by a three-match T20I series at home against Australia in the last week of January. After these series, the team will return to Sri Lanka for the T20 World Cup, set from February 7 to March 8, jointly hosted by Sri Lanka and India.
Top Pakistan players likely to miss most of the BPL
Key Pakistani stars signed for the BPL—including Saim Ayub, Mohammad Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed, Sahibzada Farhan, Usman Khan, Imad Wasim, and Khushdil Shah—are expected to miss significant portions of the league. Franchise officials have already been informed and are actively seeking replacements.
“We are aware that the Pakistani players will not be available for the entire season, given their series against Sri Lanka in mid-January and Australia later in the month,” said an official closely associated with the franchises.
Major T20I players like Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi are unlikely to be released at all, as the Pakistan Cricket Board prioritizes national duty ahead of the World Cup.
Some players, however, may get limited opportunities. Sylhet Titans opener Saim Ayub, now a key member of Pakistan’s T20I squad and ranked the world’s No. 1 T20 all-rounder, is expected to miss most of the tournament. Similarly, Rajshahi Warriors’ all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz is also likely to be unavailable.
A PCB official confirmed that while NOCs (No Objection Certificates) are being processed, national commitments remain the priority. Players outside Pakistan’s main World Cup plans may still participate in a few BPL matches, either before the Sri Lanka series or during short gaps between tours.
