Sahibzada Farhan, the top run-scorer for Pakistan in T20Is since last year, has been named the captain for the national team in the 2026 Asian Games. This important event will take place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, in September-October this year.
Four players—Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Maaz Sadaqat, and Saad Masood—have been included in the 15-man squad despite not having played T20I Cricket for Pakistan. Abdul Samad will serve as Farhan’s vice-captain.
Farhan was the leading run-scorer in the T20 World Cup 2026, scoring 383 runs in six innings with a strike rate of 160.25. While he has played 45 T20Is for Pakistan, this will be his first time leading the team in the Asian Games. His deputy, Samad, was not part of the T20 World Cup squad and has played just six ODIs and five T20Is for Pakistan. His last T20I match was in May 2025, though he featured in the recent ODI series against Australia.
Usman Khan has been chosen as the primary wicketkeeper for a squad that differs significantly from the one that competed in the T20 World Cup earlier this year. Some key players, including regular captain Salman Ali Agha, and stars like Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Shadab Khan, will not be present in this lineup.
Pakistan’s selection strategy indicates a commitment to youth, giving fresh players an opportunity to shine for the nation. In the previous edition, India clinched the Gold medal under Ruturaj Gaikwad’s leadership. It will be intriguing to see how far Pakistan progresses this year.
Pakistan squad for Asian Games 2026 Japan: 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, and Usman Khan (WK).