India, Dec. 28 -- Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Haris Rauf are key absentees from Pakistan's squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka ahead of the upcoming World Cup. These players have not been included in the lineup as they are currently in Australia for the Big Bash League (BBL), and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to honour their agreements and not recall them earlier from Down Under.

Babar is representing the Sydney Sixers, Rizwan is playing for the Melbourne Renegades, Rauf is appearing for the Melbourne Stars, while Shaheen Afridi is playing for theBrisbane Heat in the BBL. All four of these players will only travel back to Pakistan once their commitments end. Babar, Sha...