Pakistan Announce Squad for Asian Games 2026, Sahibzada Farhan Named Captain
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a 15-member squad for the 2026 Asian Games, with opening batter Sahibzada Farhan appointed as captain. The tournament will be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, later this year, and Pakistan will be aiming to improve on their fourth-place finish from the previous edition.
Abdul Samad has been named vice-captain of the side and is expected to play a key leadership role alongside Farhan. The squad features a blend of experienced T20 players and promising young talents as Pakistan looks to challenge for a medal at the continental event.
The men's cricket competition at the Asian Games is scheduled to begin on September 24, while the medal matches will take place on October 3. With a short and intense tournament format, teams will be looking to hit the ground running from the opening round.
Sahibzada Farhan's appointment as captain comes on the back of an outstanding T20 World Cup 2026 campaign. The opener finished as the tournament's leading run-scorer and played a major role in guiding Pakistan to the Super 8 stage before their campaign ended just short of the semifinals.
Farhan Set for First International Leadership Role
Despite having represented Pakistan in 46 T20 Internationals, Farhan is yet to captain the national side in either white-ball format. The Asian Games will therefore mark his first major leadership assignment for Pakistan at the international level.
The squad also includes four players who are yet to make their T20I debut for Pakistan. Fast bowlers Akif Javed and Ali Raza, all-rounder Maaz Sadaqat, and batter Saad Masood have all been rewarded for their recent performances and will have the opportunity to gain valuable international exposure.
Saim Ayub, Hasan Nawaz, Haider Ali and Arafat Minhas are among the other notable names in the squad. Their inclusion provides balance to the side, with Pakistan selecting a group capable of adapting to the fast-paced nature of T20 cricket.
Usman Khan has been chosen as the primary wicketkeeper for the tournament. Having already been part of Pakistan's T20 World Cup squad, he brings valuable experience and firepower to the batting unit.
National Cricket Academy Camp Boosts Preparation
The PCB highlighted that the majority of the selected players are already part of the National Cricket Academy's White Ball Camp. According to the board, 14 of the 15 players named in the Asian Games squad are participating in the camp, which began in Lahore on June 15.
The White Ball Camp has been designed to prepare players for upcoming international assignments through specialized coaching, fitness training and skill-development sessions. The board believes the camp will help the squad enter the Asian Games in peak condition.
Cricket has featured in the Asian Games on three previous occasions—in 2010, 2014 and 2022. Pakistan finished fourth in the most recent edition, held in 2023, where they won one match and lost two. This year's squad will be eager to improve on that performance and compete for a podium finish.
Interestingly, Pakistan's arch-rivals India have already announced a full-strength squad for the tournament under the leadership of new T20I captain Shreyas Iyer. With both teams expected to field strong sides, the prospect of another India-Pakistan showdown could add extra excitement to the 2026 Asian Games cricket competition.
Pakistan Squad for 2026 Asian Games:
Sahibzada Farhan (captain), Abdul Samad (vice-captain), 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 (wicketkeeper).
Pakistan Support Staff for 2026 Asian Games:
Mike Hesson (head coach), Ashley Noffke (bowling coach), Shane McDermott (fielding coach), Muhammad Tahir (physiotherapist), Imran Ullah (trainer), and Usman Hashmi (analyst-cum-team operations coordinator).