Opening batter Sahibzada Farhan will lead Pakistan’s men at the Asian Games in Japan, 19 September-3 October. The 15-strong squad leans heavily on emerging talent, with four uncapped players and only a sprinkling of established names.
Chief selector Rashid Latif summed up the approach: “We’ve picked on current form and attitude. The Games aren’t a holiday – they’re a chance to see who can handle international pressure.”
Key inclusions
• Ali Raza – the 20-year-old quick has forced the door open after two lively PSL campaigns and a decisive 4-42 in last year’s Under-19 Asia Cup final against India.
• Maaz Sadaqat and Saad Masood – both have ODI caps, now stepping back into the frame in the shortest format.
• Abdul Samad – five T20Is to his name and promoted to vice-captain.
Experienced heads such as Saim Ayub, Abrar Ahmed and keeper-batter Usman Khan provide a measure of stability, while Haider Ali and Hasan Nawaz return hoping to reignite T20I careers that stalled after a lean Asia Cup.
Farhan, chatting to reporters in Lahore, kept it simple: “Captaining Pakistan at any level is a privilege. I’m excited to work with this group of lads, many of whom have been smashing it in domestic cricket.”
Context and opportunity
Pakistan play relatively little official T20I cricket in 2026, so the Asian Games double as an extended trial. A solid fortnight in Japan could nudge individuals into next year’s regular T20 side. Bowling coach Umar Gul put it plainly: “Take wickets under lights in Sapporo, and the selectors remember your name when Australia tour in December.”
The squad has been warned against complacency. At the previous Games in China, Pakistan finished fourth after semi-final defeat to Afghanistan and a bronze-medal loss versus Bangladesh. “That still hurts,” Haider Ali admitted. “We owe ourselves a better showing.”
Analytical note
Only three frontline pacers are named, suggesting Arafat Minhas’s all-round overs may be vital. Spin looks deeper, with Abrar Ahmed’s mystery and Sufyan Moqim’s left-arm angles likely to share the middle-overs load. Batting depth extends to No. 8, but power-hitting at the death could rest on Samad and Ayub.
Squad
Sahibzada Farhan (capt), 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)
Pakistan fly out early September for a short acclimatisation camp in Osaka. Farhan’s closing words were upbeat yet measured: “No big promises, but if we stick to simple plans we’ll be hard to beat.”
