National T20 Cup 2026: New captain named as Mohammad Rizwan excluded from Peshawar squad Peshawar Region has announced significant changes to its squad for the upcoming National T20 Cup 2026, which will be held at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium in Peshawar from 7 to 18 March. The tournament marks a leadership shift as wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan has withdrawn from the competition. All-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed has been appointed as the new captain of the Peshawar side. Rizwan’s absence has been addressed by the inclusion of all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz, who will feature in the tournament as his replacement. The squad for Peshawar Region includes Iftikhar Ahmed (captain), Ahmed Hussain (U21), Azam Khan, Ihsanullah, Mohammad Nawaz (guest), Israrullah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Shoaib (U21), Mohammad Imran Jnr, Nabi Gul, Sajid Khan, Usman Tariq, Waqar Ahmed, and Yasir Khan. The team’s opening matches will be against Lahore Whites on 7 March and Karachi Whites on 11 March. Lahore Whites have also strengthened their lineup by adding Pakistan stars Babar Azam and Naseem Shah to their squad. Both players, who were initially absent from the squad announcement, will now play under the captaincy of Aamir Jamal. The team has further bolstered its ranks with the inclusion of Ahmed Daniyal and Mohammad Salman. The tournament will feature 18 regional teams across 23 matches at the Peshawar venue, which previously hosted nine Quaid-e-Azam Trophy fixtures in October and November 2025. The participating teams include Abbottabad, Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Karachi Whites, Karachi Blues, Lahore Blues, Lahore Whites, Multan, and Sialkot. The teams have been divided into two groups. Group A consists of Lahore Whites, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Karachi Whites, and Bahawalpur.#peshawar_region #imran_khan_cricket_stadium #lahore_whites #babar_azam #naseem_shah
