The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced its 15-member squad for the 2026 Asian Games, scheduled to be held in Japan from September 19 to October 14. Opting for a youthful group, the selectors have left out several senior stars, including Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Salman Ali Agha. Opening batter Sahibzada Farhan has been entrusted with the captaincy, while Abdul Samad, who has represented Pakistan in five T20Is, will serve as vice-captain. The squad selection signals the PCB's intention to give emerging players an opportunity on a major multi-sport stage while allowing several established names a break from international duty.
Sahibzada Farhan will lead Pakistan in Asian Games. (AFP)
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At 30, Farhan is one of the most experienced players in the squad. He has scored 1,305 runs in 46 T20Is for Pakistan, including two centuries and 10 fifties. Farhan also enjoyed a standout 2026 T20 World Cup, finishing as the tournament's leading run-scorer.
Emphasising its focus on emerging talent, the PCB revealed that four members of the Asian Games squad are yet to make their T20I debuts for Pakistan, underlining the opportunities being handed to the next generation.
"Among the 15-member squad, Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Maaz Sadaqat and Saad Masood are the four players yet to represent Pakistan in the T20I format. Additionally, 14 of the 15 players selected for the Asian Games squad are part of the NCA White-Ball Camp, which is set to commence in Lahore from Monday, 15 June," PCB stated in a release.
Meanwhile, Pakistan endured a disappointing campaign at the recently concluded T20 World Cup, with their journey ending in the Super 8 stage. The setback came on the heels of another missed opportunity, as they fell short against India national cricket team in the Asia Cup final. The back-to-back tournament disappointments have intensified the focus on building a stronger squad for future events.
Pakistan Asian Games Squad
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 (wicket-keeper).
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Support staff: Mike Hesson (head coach), Ashley Noffke (bowling coach), Shane McDermott (fielding coach), Muhammad Tahir (physiotherapist), Imran Ullah (trainer), Usman Hashmi (analyst-cum-team operations coordinator).
Aditya Maheshwari is a Chief Content Producer and sports journalist with over seven years of experience covering the sports beat across formats and platforms. A cricket-first reporter by profession, he also follows football closely and considers it an integral part of his sporting journey. His work is shaped by a strong on-ground understanding of the game and an ability to translate match-day moments into clear, engaging stories that connect with readers across digital audiences. Over the years, he has developed a balanced approach that combines factual accuracy with narrative clarity, ensuring that both breaking developments and deeper insights are presented with context. Aditya has reported from the field at several major tournaments, including the ICC Cricket World Cup, the Indian Premier League, and the Indian Super League. First-hand coverage of these events has strengthened his ability to read the pulse of high-pressure contests, whether through live reporting, post-match analysis, or long-form storytelling. Working closely around teams, venues, and evolving storylines has helped him develop a strong sense of timing and editorial judgment. While cricket remains his primary focus, Aditya regularly reports on football and keeps a close watch on other sports such as tennis, hockey, and badminton. His wide-ranging interest allows him to approach stories with broader perspective, understanding how different sporting ecosystems function and evolve. Comfortable in fast-paced digital newsrooms, Aditya is well-versed in modern sports coverage, from live blogs and real-time updates to in-depth analysis and audience-focused storytelling. He believes in keeping sports writing simple, accurate, and grounded, with emphasis on clarity over complexity. At the core of his work lies a commitment to credible reporting and telling stories that go beyond the numbers on the scoreboard, highlighting the people, preparation, and pressure behind every performance.
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Home/Cricket/Sahibzada Farhan to captain Pakistan at Asian Games 2026 as PCB begin rebuild with no Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi
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