Sahibzada Farhan to lead Pakistan in Asian Games 2026

Sahibzada Farhan to lead Pakistan in Asian Games 2026

Sahibzada Farhan has been named Pakistan captain for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan (September-October). The 15-member squad includes four uncapped T20I players: Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Maaz Sadaqat, and Saad Masood. Abdul Samad is vice-captain.

Pakistan squad: Sahibzada Farhan (c), Abdul Samad (vc), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Arafat Minhas, Haider Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Saad Masood, Saim Ayub, Sufyan Moqim, Usman Khan (wk)

Farhan (46 T20Is) has not captained Pakistan in any white-ball format. Samad (5 T20I caps) last played the format in March 2024 but featured in the recent ODI series against Australia.

Usman Khan is the primary wicketkeeper in a squad largely different from the T20 World Cup side. Regular captain Salman Ali Agha, plus Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Shadab Khan, are absent.

14 of 15 players are part of the NCA white-ball camp starting June 15 in Lahore. The men's cricket event runs September 24 to October 3.

Pakistan finished fourth in the 2022 Asian Games (held in 2023), winning one match and losing two. Cricket has featured in the Asian Games three times (2010, 2014, 2022).